Principled Spying

Reviews
"This groundbreaking volume admirably brings these two worlds into dialogue, bridging an imagined divide of utility versus principle with a new paradigm for considering the ethics of intelligence operations."—Theological Studies



"Provides valuable both-sides arguments on the issue that warrant a read by both intelligence professionals and the lay citizen alike."—



"The format is unique, taking the form of a dialogue between the two authors, with each author's contribution labeled as such. Their approach to the problem of intelligence ethics is promising as they seek to use just-war theory as a way to offer ethical guidance on how to engage in actions forbidden altogether in normal society."—Choice



"If spying is the world's second oldest profession, or perhaps the oldest, ethical issues it raises are almost as old. But as this wonderful conversation between an eminent practitioner and a senior scholar displays, those have been reshaped by the long transition from royal sovereigns to popular sovereignty, and sharpened more recently by the focus on terrorism and the rise of big data. The former both makes "war" continuous and puts enormous pressure on warning. That pressure then stresses ethics in familiar collection, like interrogation, but also requires searching through big data sets , including information about innocent citizens. for tips about would-be terrorists. Omand and Phythian creatively apply the principles of just war to intelligence, and make a strong argument for a new "social compact," one that benefits from the paradox of Edward Snowden's revelations, which were very damaging but also sparked a real conversation about privacy and other ethical issues inherent in intelligence in this era that is neither peace nor war."—Gregory Treverton, former chair of the US National Intelligence Council



"Principled Spying is a must read for all involved in the intelligence profession as well as for those who are interested in understanding how intelligence agencies can and should operate ethically in the 21st century. David Omand and Mark Phythian provide a comprehensive review and stimulating discussion of the role and responsibilities of intelligence professionals and how the ethical foundations of liberal democracies can be preserved and even strengthened by 'principled spying.' A most compelling narrative!"—John Brennan, Former Director, CIA



"Most people agree that a safe society means that intelligence gathering is necessary but too few agree on its limits in a free society. This valuable book, a debate between two informed and experienced experts, provides perceptive insights to help both the public and the policy makers come to the right decisions."—George Robertson, Secretary General, NATO 1999-2003, UK Secretary of State for Defence 1997-99