# Courier **Entity class:** Operational Graph Concepts concept **Courier** is a tradecraft concept describing a human role, access path, intermediary, or reporting relationship within an operational network. Courier belongs in the ontology because AI can compute over this structure while analysts retain responsibility for interpretation and authorized action. ## Counterterrorism predictive-graph role A relationship or identity match is an evidence-bearing hypothesis with source, time, and confidence. It is not guilt by association. The analytic state should distinguish ground truth, observed evidence, inferred state, and predicted state. ## Relationships - **domain router:** [[wiki/Intelligence Tradecraft|Intelligence Tradecraft]]. - **ontology neighbors:** [[wiki/Facilitator|Facilitator]] and [[wiki/Access Agent|Access Agent]]. - **synthesis:** [[wiki/Counterterrorism Predictive Graph|Counterterrorism Predictive Graph]] and [[wiki/Predictive Intelligence Loop|Predictive Intelligence Loop]]. ## Sources - [NCTC — Guidelines for Access, Retention, Use, and Dissemination of United States Person Information (accessed September 23, 2026)](https://www.odni.gov/files/NCTC/documents/RelatedContent_documents/NCTCGuidelines.pdf) - [ODNI — Data Mining Report CY2021–2023](https://www.odni.gov/files/documents/CLPO/CY2021-2023_Data_Mining_Report_FINAL.pdf) **As of:** 2026-09-23