The Challenges of Ethical Practice in Intelligence Collection

ABSTRACT 

Ethical practice in intelligence collection has been challenged to the point that individuals and even groups are becoming more hesitant to cooperate with the intelligence community. There is therefore the need to identify the specific ethical challenges confronting the intelligence community with the hope of offering approaches that can help to overcome such challenges. The paper is review based and it relied on the Just War theory as basis for analysis as it addresses the questions on what ethical practice means and the specific identifiable challenges the intelligence community is faced with in the course of intelligence collection. The study noted that some of the reviewed works were Artificial intelligence based with western colorations. As such challenges identified were mostly western based challenges some of such challenges are those of intrusion, expandability and accountability, bias, authoritarianism and political sector. While the issue of bias, authoritarianism and political security is recurrent both in the west and the third world, the study pointed out more pressing challenges especially within the context of the Nigeria state. Some of such challenges include those of corruption, impurity, double standard and overt use of force. All these challenges are inconsistent with the purpose of establishing intelligence agencies. The study therefore recommends severe discipline for officers found perpetrating unethical practice, Good remuneration, and training in civility etc. 

KEYWORDS: Ethical practices, intelligence collection