Getting the Word Out

The FBI and CIA founded and sponsored the center in February 2003 under the USA Patriot Act to ensure that translation of foreign intelligence is timely and accurate. The program, part of the National Security Agency, focuses on reducing the foreign language barrier, expediting access to sources, accelerating processing, integrating language translation into tactical and strategic warfare efforts, and developing and sustaining language skills. Run by the CIA, this organization monitors international media and government publications, and broadcasts and directs other federal research and development organizations in creating appropriate translation technologies. The lab, which develops warfighting science and technology, facilitates the transfer of multilingual technology to other government organizations by bridging management and research efforts. Part of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, this office spearheads programs such as Translingual Information Detection, Extraction and Summarization, which develops technology to enable researchers to interpret critical information in multiple languages.