IRIS SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CO. - SAFE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R002100120008-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2007
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: December 17, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007/02128 :CIA-RDP83MOO9-44ROW1OO12000~--2~
 Approved For Release 2007/0OU1V~[JEPi11KP83MOO914ROO2100120008-2
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17 December 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
Deputy Director for Administration
FROM: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: IRIS Systems Development Co. - SAFE
Someone might ask us how these guys developed their "pilot
computer" system in something like a year at a -fraction of what
William J. Casey
Approved For Release 2001/02
 Approved For Release 2007/02/28: CIA-RDP83M00914R002100120008-2
Approved For Release 2007/02/28: CIA-RDP83M00914R002100120008-2
 Approved For Release 2007/02/28: CIA-RDP83M00914R002100120008-2
When IRIS:formation'was first announced, it was described
as a "private spy network" or "private.. CLA," a team of spooks
for hire whose electronic capability would rival that at Langley.
According to Boeker and Atwood, IRIS does have CIA-style
technical resources, set up by a former CLA man, but the or-
ganization will work more Like a newspaper than like a cloak-
and dagger team.
The computer system was developed under the direction of
Barry Kelly, a retired CLA technology specialist who is now
president of IRIS. His function, Boeker and Atwood said, is to
design the computer system, not to influence the analysis of
the information the computer puts.out.
"Private CIA is misleading," Atwood said. "We collect irifor
mation openly from open sources. Our correspondents overseas
operate on an accredited, open basis. It has nothing to do with
the clandestine, dirty-tricks world."
"It's not hush-hush," said Boeker, senior vice president
"Anybody can subscribe. Any government can have its- own
terminal- It's.like a wire service, but with analysis."_-:
When itbecomes operational in January, he said, IRIS w
distribute its information: and analyses in several.formats: al=;
`
MI!3 will
ways directly to, each client's computer terminal.
publish a daily,-report on developments in eacIs.of.six regions;
North America, Europe,-, Africa, Latin: America, Middle East
IRIS will also publish "country-assessments," analyses of the:
politics, economy,.-social.trends and foreign policy.of whatever.
_ .
country the client is interested in. Each client can also receive
a .daily report that covers worldwide developments-of interest
to his gover tnient or corporation. In addition, IRIS will prof-
vide- "customized" special reports on request, and'what"Boeker :.
called "in-depth analysis of major events, such as Mexico's
atioralization "
.:. ccording to IRIS marketing brochures, "a software --
program generated-by the Client Profile instructs the':
IRIS computers as they scan the mass of data col-
lected from IRIS correspondents, newspapers, wire
services, selected - periodicals; government publications and -?i
other sources. Matching the information collected against the
client's requirements, the computers screen the IRIS informa 1
tion flow in eight languages, select the information pertinent to
the client, - and deliver it to_ the appropriate members of the? .--'
-IRIS staff. The staff analyzes the information and then distills
it into concise. English-land sage reports tailored to meet the
client's need; "
"If you are an American client, you don't need any analysis
of American politics from IRIS," Baron said. "But a Third -
World country negotiating with, say, Weyerhauser, has no base
of information. The idea is to get this information down to the
individual person."
Baron said the computer would enable IRIS to assemble the
results of public-opinion polls in all 31 countries where they
are taken, a resource that he said does not currently exist. He -
said he will not be working for IRIS full time,, but will make
available to IRIS, as part of its data base, the political analysis
he does as editor of the Baron report. - -
The principal investors in IRIS are Skandia Insurance Co.
Ltd., of Sweden; Bank in Liechtenstein AG; the Bank of Bil-
bao; Seascope Overseas Corp., an affiliate of Lloyds of London; "
and Henry Ansbacher Investments Ltd., a London merchant
bank.
According to Boeker, they wanted to have the operation
based in the United States because the most advanced com-
puter technology was available here, and chose Washington
because it is the site of the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund. The European investors, he said, installed
their own man, Swedish newspaper publisher Gustav Douglas,
as chairman of the American operation.
The "initial investment," he said, "is about $15 million. We
expect to spend $20-to-23 million before We. break even."
The "basic subscription fee" for IRIS services -begins at
$100,000 a year," the company says. Boeker acknowledged that
it is expensive, but he said the company is only aiming at "a
couple of hundred demanding clients."
Marketing began in mid-November. Boeker said the objec-
tive is to sign up 15 clients by April 1, at least 50 by the end of
1983, and 1.00 by the end of the 1984.
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