The Art Of Elicitation: Leveraging The CARVER Methodology In Espionage And Security

In the world of espionage and corporate security, the extraction of sensitive information often begins with a simple conversation. What might appear to be a casual chat can, in fact, be a carefully orchestrated ploy known as elicitation. This timeless technique is used to subtly extract valuable insights from individuals who are often unaware they are revealing anything of importance. When paired with the CIA’s CARVER methodology, elicitation becomes a powerful tool for assessing both physical vulnerabilities and human weaknesses, making it a critical tactic in intelligence and security operations.

The Recruitment Cycle And CARVER’s Role In Espionage

The CIA’s CARVER methodology—originally developed for target analysis—has proven invaluable not only in assessing physical infrastructure but also in evaluating human targets. CARVER, which stands for Criticality, Accessibility, Recoverability, Vulnerability, Effect, and Recognizability, provides a systematic framework for identifying weaknesses. After its successful application by the O.S.S., CIA’s Special Activities Division, and the U.S. Special Forces, case officers in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations adopted it for their own purposes. It became a roadmap for categorizing potential assets in the complex process of espionage recruitment.

Recruiting someone to spy—essentially to commit treason—is no simple task. It involves identifying individuals with access to unique information and then building trust to the poi...