Application of Big Data for National Security

Chapter 15

The Legal Challenges of Big Data Application in Law Enforcement

Fraser Sampson

Abstract

This chapter considers the specific issues that Big Data presents for law enforcement agencies (LEAs). In particular, it looks at the dilemmas created for LEAs seeking to use the advantages Big Data gives them while remaining compliant with the developing legal framework governing privacy and the protection of personal data, and how those very advantages can present challenges in law enforcement.

Keywords

Dilemma; Human rights; Jurisdiction; Law enforcement; Privacy; Purpose limitation

Introduction

Big Data “calls for momentous choices to be made between weighty policy concerns” (Polonetsky and Tene, 2013). The weighty policy concerns also have to weigh ...