Controversial GCHQ Unit Engaged in Domestic Law Enforcement, Online Propaganda, Psychology Research
The spy unit responsible for some of the United Kingdom’s most
controversial tactics of surveillance, online propaganda and deceit
focuses extensively on traditional law enforcement and domestic
activities — even though officials typically justify its activities by
emphasizing foreign intelligence and counterterrorism operations.
Documents published today by The Intercept demonstrate how
the Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group (JTRIG), a unit of the
signals intelligence agency Government Communications Headquarters
(GCHQ), is involved in efforts against political groups it considers
“extremist,” Islamist activity in schools, the drug trade, online fraud
and financial scams.
Though its existence was secret until last year, JTRIG quickly
developed a distinctive profile in the public understanding, after
documents from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed
that the unit had engaged in “dirty tricks” like deploying sexual
“honey traps” designed to discredit targets, launching denial-of-service
attacks to shut down Internet chat rooms, pushing veiled propaganda
onto social networks and generally warping discourse online.
