Chatter (signals intelligence)

Chatter is a term attributed to United States officials, who explain that by monitoring the volume of the electronic communication, to or from suspected terrorists they can determine whether there is cause for alarm. They refer to the electronic communication as chatter.

Monitoring chatter is an example of traffic analysis a sub-field of signals intelligence. Intelligence specialists believe that they can learn significant information by methodically monitoring when and with whom suspects communicate. Even if they don't think they understand the real meaning of what suspected terrorists are saying to one another, they regard an increase in the number of the messages as a significant cause for alarm. Paradoxically, they also regard a decrease in the number of messages as a cause for alarm.