Omar Bennett
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the United States' federal agency for investigating cyberattacks, countering terrorism, and enforcing civil rights law. The FBI has the broadest investigative authority of all federal law enforcement agencies, and its involvement in an investigation signifies a matter of significant legal gravity. The FBI's investigations cover a wide range of areas, including financial crimes, public corruption, international terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime. The FBI's involvement in an investigation can be triggered by various factors, such as tips from the public, intelligence gathered through its methods, or requests for assistance from local law enforcement agencies in complex cases with national implications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mission | To protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States |
| Jurisdiction | Possible violation of federal law |
| Investigative authority | Broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies |
| Investigative programs | Domestic and international terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, cyber crime, public corruption, civil rights, organised crime/drugs, white-collar crime, violent crimes and major offenders, applicant matters |
| Investigative tools | Intelligence, science, technology, special tactics and teams, cutting-edge science, training |
| Investigative history | Espionage, entrapment, wiretapping, bootlegging, bank robberies, kidnappings, murders, terrorism, hate crime, human trafficking, public corruption, election crimes, transnational organised crime, cyberattacks, weapons of mass destruction |
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What You'll Learn
Terrorism and violent crime
The FBI's investigative authority is the broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies, and it has a strong emphasis on counterterrorism. The FBI collects information that serves as the basis for prosecution and builds an intelligence base to prevent future terrorist acts. The Bureau also participates in numerous joint terrorism task forces and interagency initiatives, such as the National Counterterrorism Center. Additionally, the FBI relies on partnerships and tips from the public to identify and thwart attacks, especially those carried out by lone offenders, who are often radicalized online and mobilize quickly.
The FBI also plays a key role in combating violent crime, including gang activity, crimes against children, and kidnappings. The Bureau works closely with local law enforcement agencies and utilizes its investigative tools to keep the public safe. In the 1980s, the FBI formed the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), a dedicated SWAT team that deals primarily with counter-terrorism scenarios. The Computer Analysis and Response Team (CART) was also established during this time to address the growing need for technological expertise in investigations.
The FBI takes a proactive approach to both terrorism and violent crime by gathering intelligence, fostering partnerships, and utilizing specialized units to neutralize threats and bring criminals to justice. The Bureau's investigative capabilities and broad authority enable it to address these complex issues and protect the American people.
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Civil rights and public corruption
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the lead agency for enforcing civil rights law in the United States. The FBI aggressively investigates civil rights violations, including hate crimes, colour of law abuses by public officials, human trafficking, involuntary servitude, and freedom of access to clinic entrances violations. These investigations are separate from Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigations, although EEOC regulations are enforced within the agency. The FBI also enforces civil rights law by investigating violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and other legislation.
Public corruption is the FBI's top criminal investigative priority. This includes border corruption, election crimes, international corruption, and prison corruption. The FBI investigates violations of federal law by public officials at the federal, state, and local levels of government. Public corruption can affect how well borders are secured, how court verdicts are decided, and how public infrastructure is built. It also costs the US government and taxpayers billions of dollars each year. The FBI works with other federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to combat public corruption. The FBI's investigative toolbox includes the asset forfeiture program, which deprives criminals of their illegally obtained property and gains, and compensates victims.
The FBI's investigative authority is the broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies. The FBI has a dual role in law enforcement and intelligence. Its investigations cover domestic and international terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, cyber crime, organised crime, violent crime, and white-collar crime. The FBI is the lead federal agency for investigating cyberattacks by criminals, overseas adversaries, and terrorists. The FBI also plays a key role in combating violent crime involving gangs, crimes against children, crimes in Indian Country, fugitives and missing persons, and bank robberies. The FBI offers assistance in kidnapping investigations, particularly when they involve a missing child.
The FBI's mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. The public can help the FBI by promptly reporting any suspicious activity involving crimes that the FBI investigates. The FBI posts information on fugitives, terrorists, kidnapped and missing persons, and bank robbers on its "Wanted by the FBI" website.
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Cyber crime
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the lead federal agency for investigating cyberattacks by criminals, overseas adversaries, and terrorists. The FBI's investigative authority is the broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies. Its mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. The FBI has a dedicated Cybercrime division that focuses on investigating and preventing internet-enabled crimes and cyber intrusions. These crimes are committed by criminals from all over the world and target a wide range of devices and networks, from personal smartphones to corporate systems.
The FBI's Cybercrime division works closely with other law enforcement agencies and partner agencies to investigate and prevent cybercrimes. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), run by the FBI, is the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crimes. IC3 collects reports of cyber-enabled frauds, scams, and cybercrimes, and shares this information with FBI field offices and law enforcement partners to strengthen the nation's collective response to cyber threats. The IC3 also provides information on current crime trends and tips to protect against cyber intrusions and online crimes.
In addition to IC3, the FBI's Cybercrime division also utilizes other tools and tactics to combat cybercrime. This includes tracking trends and threats, freezing stolen funds, and using asset forfeiture to deprive criminals of illegally obtained property and gains. The FBI also provides recommendations to prevent cyber intrusions, such as keeping systems and software up to date, using strong and unique passphrases, and being cautious about the information shared online.
If you are the victim of a cyber-enabled crime or fraud, it is important to file a report with IC3 as soon as possible. Rapid reporting can support the recovery of lost funds and help law enforcement agencies respond to and defend against cyber threats. Reports can be filed at ic3.gov or tips.fbi.gov, depending on the nature of the crime. It is also important to note that the FBI investigates a range of other crimes, including terrorism, public corruption, civil rights abuses, and white-collar crimes.
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Transnational organised crime
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is tasked with investigating and neutralizing threats to the United States and its interests. This includes transnational organized crime (TOC), which poses a significant and growing threat to national and international security, public safety, public health, democratic institutions, and economic stability.
TOC networks are expanding and diversifying their activities, leading to a convergence of once-distinct threats with destabilizing effects. These criminal organizations exploit vulnerabilities in developing countries with weak rule of law, penetrating and co-opting state institutions, and threatening governance. The World Bank estimates that approximately $1 trillion is spent annually bribing public officials, distorting economic activity and damaging legitimate businesses. TOC activities can also disrupt global supply chains, impacting the competitiveness and resilience of US industry and transportation sectors.
International human smuggling networks are linked to TOC, facilitating the movement of criminals, fugitives, terrorists, trafficking victims, and economic migrants. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), human smuggling from Latin America to the United States generates around $6.6 billion annually for these networks. TOC groups also leverage relationships with state-owned entities to gain influence over key commodities markets, such as gas, oil, aluminum, and precious metals, potentially exploiting the transportation sector.
Cybercrime is another critical aspect of TOC. Transnational criminal organizations exploit cyber vulnerabilities to target financial and trust systems, including banking, stock markets, e-currency, and credit card services. Central European cybercrime networks, for example, have defrauded US citizens and entities of approximately $1 billion in a single year.
To combat TOC, the FBI employs various investigative techniques, including undercover operations, court-authorized electronic surveillance, informants, and cooperating witnesses. The FBI's broad investigative authority allows it to work closely with other federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies to dismantle major international, national, and regional criminal groups that pose the greatest threat to the United States and its interests.
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Espionage
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the lead agency for investigating espionage in the United States. Espionage, or spying, involves the theft of sensitive information, often through cyber-based means, as spying today is frequently accomplished by data theft from computer networks.
The FBI's investigative authority is the broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies, and it works closely with other federal, state, local, and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The FBI's counterintelligence goals are to protect the secrets of the U.S. Intelligence Community and the nation's critical assets, such as advanced technologies and sensitive information in key sectors.
Economic espionage, a type of espionage, involves foreign powers or entities targeting the U.S. government, corporations, or individuals to unlawfully obtain sensitive financial, trade, economic policy, or critical technology information. This can result in significant economic losses and put national security at risk.
The FBI has a long history of investigating and preventing espionage, including notable cases such as the arrest of Aldrich Ames, a CIA officer who spied for the Russians, and the uncovering of an espionage ring led by Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who passed atomic bomb secrets to the Soviet Union.
The FBI's investigative capabilities include gathering facts and evidence, using intelligence, and employing various tools and tactics to keep the public safe. The FBI's role in counterintelligence and espionage investigations is crucial to protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution of the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The FBI's investigative functions include domestic and international terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, cyber crime, public corruption, civil rights, organized crime/drugs, white-collar crime, violent crimes, and major offenders.
The FBI investigates federal crimes, including terrorism, cyberattacks, transnational organized crime, espionage, public corruption, hate crimes, human trafficking, and violent crimes such as gangs, crimes against children, and kidnappings.
The FBI will initiate a kidnapping investigation, particularly if it involves a missing child, even if there is no known interstate aspect. The FBI also gets involved if there is evidence of interstate travel.
Citizens can report suspicious activity involving crimes that the FBI investigates by contacting the FBI directly. The FBI will then determine if an investigation is warranted.
The FBI has been involved in investigating cases of espionage against the United States and its allies since the 1940s. During Prohibition, the FBI used wiretapping to arrest bootleggers. The FBI also played a significant role in the "War on Crime" in the 1930s, apprehending or killing notorious criminals such as John Dillinger and "Baby Face" Nelson.
