Key Intelligence Questions - Defining ECHO’s 2025 KIQs
The intelligence cycle is the foundation and framework for effective information gathering and analysis. Key Intelligence Questions (KIQs) represent ongoing information needs relevant to various programs, departments, divisions, agencies, government objectives, and operations. These specific questions are essential in directing all phases of the intelligence cycle and defining the scope of intelligence production for the designated period, which, for ECHO, is set for 2025.
ABOVE: Basic intelligence cycle. ECHO notes that components of the intelligence cycle may shift dependent upon agency, government, sector, etc.
It is important to note that KIQs are not static. They inherently evolve with each iteration of the intelligence cycle. Consequently, input from consumers and insights from analysts play a vital role in refining and shaping these questions. ECHO readers should anticipate that the list of KIQs will adapt and change throughout 2025 as circumstances, needs, and the threat environment rapidly evolve.
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How will AI-driven autonomous decision-making in warfare reshape national security threats and deterrence models?
What new vulnerabilities emerge as quantum computing approaches practical implementation, and how could adversaries exploit them?
How are decentralized intelligence networks (e.g., DAOs, hacker collectives) shifting the balance of power in global espionage?
What unexpected consequences could arise from the weaponization of social media recommendation algorithms?
How will climate-driven security crises—such as mass migration or resource conflicts—accelerate geopolitical instability?
What fringe movements, ideologies, or subcultures are emerging as potential threats long before they enter traditional security paradigms?
How can generative AI and synthetic media be leveraged for precision-targeted influence campaigns against the U.S. and its allies?
What are the strategic implications of states ceding control over key security operations to private military and cyber firms?
How do transnational criminal networks adapt to geopolitical tensions, and what alliances are forming between non-state actors and hostile governments?
How is the commercialization of surveillance tech (e.g., facial recognition, AI-based predictive policing) being exploited by hostile actors?
What role do rogue actors within the U.S. defense and intelligence communities play in data leaks, espionage, or internal subversion?
Could the increasing automation of intelligence collection and analysis create blind spots that adversaries can exploit?
How will a shift from traditional state vs. state conflicts to AI-led warfare and cyber-political insurgencies redefine U.S. security strategy?
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How are China and Russia adapting their partnership to counter U.S. influence, and what are the long-term implications for global security?
What indicators suggest that a new geopolitical bloc (e.g., expanded BRICS, alternative financial systems) is forming to challenge U.S. global leadership?
How are U.S. allies hedging against potential U.S. retrenchment or policy shifts, and what alternative security or economic partnerships are emerging?
How is China leveraging its dominance over rare earth elements, semiconductors, and critical supply chains to gain strategic leverage over the U.S. and its allies?
What alternative economic and trade corridors (e.g., India-Middle East-Europe corridor) are emerging to challenge China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
How effective are U.S. efforts to decouple from Chinese manufacturing and critical technology supply chains, and where are the greatest vulnerabilities?
How is China restructuring its military doctrine and force projection capabilities in preparation for a potential Taiwan contingency?
What lessons is China learning from Russia’s war in Ukraine, and how is it adapting its military strategy accordingly?
What advancements in hypersonic weapons, anti-satellite capabilities, and next-generation missile defense systems are reshaping global deterrence dynamics?
How is China’s use of soft power—through media, academia, and technology platforms—expanding its ideological and political influence in the West?
What new tactics are China and Russia employing in their influence operations, and how effective are they in shaping Western public opinion and policy?
What vulnerabilities exist in the U.S. information ecosystem that adversarial states could exploit to exacerbate domestic divisions and weaken public trust?
How is China integrating AI into its intelligence, cyber, and military operations to counter U.S. technological superiority?
What role does China’s global expansion in digital infrastructure (e.g., 5G networks, AI-driven surveillance, satellite communications) play in its geopolitical strategy?
What are the implications of quantum computing breakthroughs on intelligence collection, cybersecurity, and encryption, and how might adversaries gain an edge?
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How are traditionally distinct extremist ideologies (e.g., far-right accelerationism, eco-extremism, and anti-government movements) converging into hybrid threat landscapes?
What role does geopolitical instability (e.g., U.S. foreign policy, global conflicts, economic crises) play in shaping domestic extremist narratives and recruitment strategies?
How are foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) adapting their messaging to appeal to U.S.-based extremists, and what signs indicate increased cross-ideological collaboration?
How is the decline of centralized extremist leadership structures leading to the rise of networked, decentralized violent extremist movements?
What indicators suggest a growing overlap between criminal enterprises (e.g., cartel-linked smuggling networks, arms trafficking) and violent extremist actors?
What recent adaptations in attack methodologies indicate a shift in extremist operational strategies within the U.S.?
How are violent extremist actors leveraging commercial drones, encrypted communication platforms, and emerging cyber tools to enhance operational capabilities?
What role does dark web procurement (firearms, explosives, counterfeit documents) play in enabling lone actors and small cells?
How are accelerationist and apocalyptic extremist groups altering their training methods to prepare for large-scale disruption events?
What lessons are violent extremists drawing from recent mass casualty attacks worldwide, and how might these influence attack planning in the U.S.?
How are extremist movements adapting their recruitment and radicalization strategies to counter-platform bans and increased digital scrutiny?
What new psychological, social, or economic triggers are accelerating radicalization pathways among vulnerable demographics?
How effective are disinformation campaigns in amplifying extremist narratives, and how are state-sponsored actors facilitating these efforts?
What are the greatest intelligence gaps in detecting and preventing lone-actor and small-cell attacks in the U.S.?
How can OSINT and behavioral analytics improve early warning systems for emerging extremist threats without infringing on civil liberties?
Any intelligence professional understands that no single report, assessment, intelligence product, or situational awareness document can fully address a Key Intelligence Question (KIQ). With this in mind, throughout 2025, ECHO reports and analyses will focus on addressing and answering identified and emerging KIQs to meet our readers' informational and intelligence needs, while also adapting as necessary.