# Pattern of Life **Entity class:** Formal Counterterrorism Intelligence Architecture concept **Pattern of Life** is an observation or analytic method used to identify departures, recurring structure, or candidate signals for further assessment. Pattern of Life 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/Counterterrorism Intelligence|Counterterrorism Intelligence]]. - **ontology neighbors:** [[wiki/Terrorist Tradecraft|Terrorist Tradecraft]] and [[wiki/Activity-Based Intelligence|Activity-Based Intelligence]]. - **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