Changing Practices, Disruptive Technologies, and the Evolution of Intelligence Institutions

This chapter looks at three disruptive technologies to show how they are impacting intelligence practices and institutions. Specifically, we look at facial recognition technologies, encryption technologies, and how modern information and communication technologies are driving the evolution of open-source intelligence (OSINT). Each of these examples, we argue, shows three things. First, the simple application of the just war principles will not meet the current reality of national security intelligence. Second, intelligence institutions need to develop a principled and reflective approach to these changes. Finally, accountability is a fundamental principle that must be incorporated into intelligence practice and institutions in order for them to be considered just.