ABSTRACT
The conclusion reflects on the findings throughout the book, highlights some of the implications for scholars, practitioners and policymakers, as well as areas for future research. These areas include the impact of the big data landscape on national security threats – such as information warfare, and social and political interference in democracies – information sharing between intelligence agencies and the role of intelligence analysts. It also points to the need for greater study of ‘ethics at scale’ in relation to big data, the evolving ethical obligations and decision-making of intelligence practitioners within this digital era, and the continued importance of trust in intelligence agencies as a fundamental component to democracies. The book highlights the specific impacts of the big data landscape on intelligence agencies and the production of intelligence, as well as society, and then examines how intelligence agencies interact with each other and the rest of society within the context of this digital era. The book details how big data is impacting the relationship between intelligence agencies and citizens, including in the areas of privacy, ethics and trust.
