1. History

2. Editorial line

3. Investigations

4. Publications

5. Masthead

6. References

7. Review

'Intelligence Online' is a digital publication dedicated to state intelligence services (CIA, NSA, MI6, BND, SVR, DGSE,…), economic intelligence issues and technological advances in the intelligence field. It is published in Paris in two languages (English and French) by the independent press company Indigo Publications. Its editor-in-chief is Pierre Gastineau.

History

Intelligence Online was created in 1980, under the name Le Monde du Renseignement in French and Intelligence Newsletter in English by the Association pour le Droit à l'Information, a French association.

In 1989, the publication was taken over by the professional press group Indigo Publications..^[1]. In 1995, an online version of the letter was launched via a subscription-based website called Intelligence Online.

In September 2001, the two print editions (Le Monde du Renseignement and Intelligence Newsletter) changed names to take that of the website housing them, Intelligence Online.

In 2013, Intelligence Online published its last printed copy while keeping a PDF edition published every two weeks.

Editorial line

Intelligence Online investigates the functioning and behind-the-scenes of intelligence services around the world in its "Government Intelligence" section and deciphers the strategies of economic and strategic intelligence private actors in the "Corporate Intelligence" category.

Intelligence Online also offers investigations into the negotiation of major contracts, particularly those related to defense and energy sectors, as well as evolution in the surveillance and interception of communications field and the processing of satellite imagery flows.

Intelligence Online editorial team works with a large network of correspondents in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.

Intelligence Online does not accept advertising and its turnover only comes from the revenues of its readers (subscriptions, unit sales). The publication considers that this economic model preserves its editorial independence.

Investigations

Intelligence Online revealed several cases that received international resonance and extensive media coverage.

In March 2016, Intelligence Online revealed the problems encountered by the cement group Lafarge, suspected of having agreed to finance the Islamic State (Daesh) in Syria to ensure the continuity of its Jalbiyeh plant's activity. Following these revelations, investigations multiplied to lead to a highly publicized scandal^[2] involving the French cement plant. According to this publication, the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE, the french external intelligence agency) has kept a close eye on these agreements between Lafarge Holcim multinational and Daesh. Intelligence Online subsequently reported that Amro Taleb, the "Raqqa businessmen" representative, had come to Paris in January 2015 to meet with Lafarge's managers and propose the reopening of the Jalbiyeh plant^[3].

Intelligence Online reported that a secret conference^[4] on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations was held on June 17th, 2018 at the behest of the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner and his advisor Jason Greenblatt^[5]. The publication revealed that the heads of the intelligence services of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority, as well as Mossad's boss Yossi Cohen, were to participate in the meeting^[6]. The publication said that the White House's preferred candidate to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as head of the Palestinian Authority would be Mared Faraj^[7], the Palestinian head of intelligence, present at the meeting. According to Intelligence Online, this conference took place one day before the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Jordan's King Abdullah II^[8].

Intelligence Online revealed on February 2018 that the commercial director of ODAS, the French Military Export Office dedicated to Saudi Arabia, was fired^[9]. Pierre Poulizac embodied the Office's desire for independence and the prospecting of new markets such as Iraq^[10]. The publication also revealed that the organization's number 2, Bernard Loth, was also on the move. Indeed, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman, has repeatedly informed Paris that he no longer wanted to deal with this office for arms contract negotiations. This information was confirmed shortly afterwards when the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, began the gradual restructuring of ODAS at the beginning of April 2018^[11].

In July 2017, Intelligence Online revealed that Hezbollah was building at least two underground plants to manufacture medium-range missiles^[12]. Some Arab media had previously published information on the topic but Intelligence Online specified the type of weapon produced and the approximate locations of the two factories^[13]. According to the publication, the Hermel plant in northern Lebanon would be used to produce the Fateh 110, a medium-range missile^[14]

Intelligence Online also published information that Erik Prince, the former head of the Blackwater mercenary company, was allegedly outsourcing clandestine operations in Libya in support of the army chief, General Khalifa Haftar, from Abu Dhabi^[15]. On January 11th, 2017, Intelligence Online reported that fighter pilots departing from Al Khadim airbase in Libya to conduct operations in support of the Libyan National Army in Benghazi, among others, were private foreign mercenaries hired by Erik Prince^[16],^[17]

In December 2016, Intelligence Online highlighted the links between François Fillon and the Lebanese Sunni businessman Fouad Makhzoumi, even defining him as the "pilot fish" in the Middle East of the 2017 right-wing presidential candidate^[18]. In March 2018, Mediapart and Le Canard Enchaîné, two French medias, reported that Mr. Makhzoumi had signed a contract with Mr. Fillon's consulting firm, 2F Conseil, in early 2016^[19]. This information was confirmed by the communication consultant of candidate Fillon, Myriam Lévy^[20]. However, the content of this contract was never disclosed.

Publications

The former and current editors-in-chief of Intelligence Online - Philippe Vasset and Pierre Gastineau - co-authored a book on the phenomenon of massive data leaks, i.e. the large-scale dissemination of documents that are not intended to be made public^[21],^[22]. The book, "Armes de déstabilisation massive", published in November 2017 by Fayard, investigates the data leakage business by researching and explaining the origin of these leaks. While some leaks are the work of whistleblowers who have taken risks to reveal scandals of general interest, many others are, according to Philippe Vasset and Pierre Gastineau, driven by very specific interests^[23],^[24].

Masthead

Publisher and Managing Editor: Maurice Botbol / Executive Editor: Philippe Vasset / Editor-in-Chief: Pierre Gastineau / Journalists: Pénélope Bacle, Guillaume Grandvent

References

Review

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