CASE STUDIES
BULK PERSONAL DATASETS
Case study A11/1
MI6
Identify/target development271
Agent recruitment
Over a number of months in early 2016, the use of BPDs enabled MI6 to identify the
travel to the UK of individuals of intelligence interest to the SIAs. The Review team was
given information which demonstrated that, without the use of BPDs, the identification of
these individuals would not have been possible. During the course of this year, six of
these individuals have been identified as potential agents and been the subject of MI6
operational activity.
Case study A11/2
MI6
Identify/anomaly detection/pattern analysis
Counter-espionage
In late 2015, BPDs were used to analyse patterns of behaviour from which potential
hostile actors could be identified. Cathryn McGahey QC was shown the report of the
data scientists who conducted the analysis. The Review team was given details which
demonstrated that (i) without the use of BPDs, such identification would not be possible;
and (ii) the information gleaned was of significant use to the UK.
Case study A11/3
MI6
Identify
Counter-espionage
In 2013, BPDs were used to identify employees of an intelligence service potentially
hostile to the UK. The Review team was given information which demonstrated that
these identifications could not have made without the use of BPDs. The information was
shared with intelligence partners.
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In each case study I have highlighted the nature of the principal work involved, by reference to
the SIAs’ Structured Description of Intelligence Work (Annex 4).
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