ANNEX 9: BULK DATA CASE STUDIES
Case study 5
6.
GCHQ used analysis of bulk data to track down two men overseas who had been
harnessing the vulnerabilities of the web to blackmail hundreds of children across the
world, including the UK, into exposing themselves online – causing them huge
trauma. Some of the victims self-harmed and considered suicide. It was the vital work
of GCHQ analysts that brought this abuse to an end: they were able to confirm the
suspects’ names and locations, and to identify an accomplice. After liaison between
law enforcement agencies, the two men were arrested and jailed in their home country.
Case study 6
7.
2014 bulk data analysis of known ISIL extremists in Syria highlighted links to an
unidentified individual whose contacts, locations and attempts to hide his internet
activity raised analysts’ suspicions. This analysis of bulk data provided the trigger for
an investigation involving many different agencies across several countries. This
investigation quickly led to the suspect’s arrest and prevented a bomb plot in mainland
Europe which was materially ready to proceed.
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