Overview[]
The Disruptive Technology Office (DTO) was a funding agency within the United States Intelligence Community between 2006-December 2007. Until 2006 it was known as the Advanced Research and Development Activity (ARDA). In December 2007, DTO was incorporated into IARPA.[1]
Historical background[]
ARDA was created in 1998 after the model of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) by the Director of Central Intelligence and the Department of Defense, and took responsibility for funding some of DARPA's projects. ARDA evaluates proposals and funds speculative research, particularly in the fields of data mining, video processing, and quantum computing.
There has been speculation that the DTO was to continue research efforts started under the Total Information Awareness program (TIA) in DARPA's Information Awareness Office (IAO). Data-mining activities within the U.S. Department of Defense are controversial and have met with public and congressional disapproval.