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In an increasingly digital world, intelligence agencies in 2016 have potential access to more data, and more types of data, than ever before. Simultaneously, three of the key terrorism trends since 2012 point to the potential benefits of taking a big data approach to counterterrorism. Firstly, terrorism is bigger in size and scale than ever before, meaning that many intelligence agencies are attempting to monitor more individuals than a traditional approach allows. Terrorism is also transnational; narrow, domestically focused datasets are unlikely to hold all of the pieces of the puzzle. Finally, data-generating technology is central to the activities of the predominant terrorist group Islamic State. There are potential obstacles to a big data approach, most notably the spread of encryption as standard. But big data offers unique benefits for intelligence agencies, allowing them to operate at scale, respond to threat intelligence quickly, and identify new intelligence targets. As in other fields including science and big business, data collection is just the first part of the process. Intelligence agencies need to interrogate the data with smart, focused questions, whether algorithmic or analyst - driven. And while these methods offer unique value, they should only supplement, not replace, other intelligence collection methods. To succeed in modern counter-terrorism, nations require specialist capabilities such as big data analysis combined with intelligence sharing partnerships at a national and international level.
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