CIA Says Cyber Operations Helped Locate Maduro Ahead of Capture
Summary
CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis said cyber operations helped build intelligence that enabled U.S. forces to locate and capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas during Operation Absolute Resolve. He also discussed AI’s expanding role at the CIA.
Key points
- Ellis said CIA cyber operations helped build the intelligence picture used to locate Maduro and his wife in Caracas.
- He said U.S. special forces apprehended Maduro within four minutes of landing, based on that intelligence picture.
- Ellis credited the CIA Cyber Mission Center with enabling the cyber operations supporting Operation Absolute Resolve.
- The CIA elevated its Center for Cyber Intelligence into a standalone mission center late last year, according to the article.
- Ellis said AI brings speed and scale to cyber operations, intelligence collection, and analysis.
- He said the CIA expects human oversight and safeguards, including flexibility to use different AI models or vendors.
Article Details
- Event Type
- CIA cyber-enabled intelligence support for a U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas.
- Impact
- CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis said cyber operations by the Cyber Mission Center helped build the intelligence picture used to locate Maduro and enabled U.S. special forces to identify his location and apprehend him within four minutes of landing. Ellis also said AI is improving the speed and scale of CIA cyber operations, intelligence collection, and analysis, with human oversight and other safeguards planned.
People
John RatcliffeCIA Director who elevated the Center for Cyber Intelligence into a standalone mission center, according to the article.Michael EllisCIA Deputy Director who described the Cyber Mission Center's role in the operation and discussed the agency's use of AI.Nicolás MaduroVenezuelan president captured in Caracas during Operation Absolute Resolve.