In a world of startling change, the first duty of government remains the security of its country. The range of threats to national security is becoming increasingly complex and diverse. Terrorism, cyber-attack, unconventional attacks using chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons, as well as large-scale accidents or natural hazards—anyone could put citizens’ safety in danger while inflicting grave damage to a nation’s interests and economic well-being.

In an age of economic uncertainty and political instability, governments must be able to act quickly and effectively to address new and evolving threats to their security. Robust security measures are needed to keep citizens, communities, and commerce safe from serious security hazards. Harnessing the power of Big Data presents an essential opportunity for governments to address these security challenges, but the handling of such large data sets raises acute concerns for existing storage capacity, together with the ability to share and analyze large volumes of data. The introduction of Big Data capabilities will no doubt require the rigorous review and overhaul of existing intelligence models and associated processes to ensure all in authority are ready to exploit Big Data.

While Big Data presents many opportunities for national security, any developments in this arena will have to be guided by the state’s relationship with its citizenry and the law. Citizens and their elected representatives remain cautious and suspicious of the access to, and sharing of, their online data. As citizens put more of their lives online voluntarily as part of contemporary lifestyle, the safety and security of their information matters more and more. Any damage to public trust is counter-productive to national security practices; just because the state may have developed the technology and techniques to harness Big Data does not necessarily mean that it should. The legal, moral, and ethical approach to Big Data must be fully explored alongside civil liberties and human rights, yet balanced with the essential requirement to protect the public from security threats.

This authoritative volume provides all security practitioners with a trusted reference and resource to guide them through the complexities of applying Big Data to national security. Authored and edited by a multidisciplinary team of international experts from academia, law enforcement, and private industry, this unique volume is a welcome introduction to tackling contemporary threats to national security.

Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC