Ethics in Intelligence: Why it Matters More Than Ever

Originally published on 17 July 2025

In the intelligence profession, we are trained to deal with ambiguity, sift through complexity, and work with information others can’t, or shouldn’t, see. But in this environment of secrecy and high stakes, the question that should never be obscured is: What is the right thing to do?

At the Institute for Intelligence Professionalisation (IIP), we believe ethics is not just an individual concern; it’s a core pillar of professional practice. Whether you’re an analyst, advisor, operator, or executive, your ethical framework shapes your decisions, your credibility, and ultimately, the trust placed in our entire sector.

Here’s why the intersection between ethics and intelligence deserves our full attention.

1. Purpose Shapes Everything

Every intelligence activity must be guided by a clear and justifiable purpose. It’s not enough to collect because we can. We must ask:

Is this action necessary? Proportionate? In the public interest?

Whether it’s surveillance, human intelligence collection, or open-source analysis, ethical clarity at the outset protects against mission creep and moral compromise.

2. Privacy and Human Rights Are Not Optional

We operate in spaces that can intrude on individual freedoms, sometimes deeply. But democratic societies are built on rights like freedom of speech, freedom from discrimination, and the right to privacy.

Balancing national security with civil liberties is one of the great ethical tensions in modern intelligence. Getting it wrong erodes public trust and the legitimacy of our profession.

3. Integrity in Assessment

Intelligence professionals are often the quiet advisors behind critical decisions. That means the truthfulness and objectivity of our assessments matter profoundly.

Cherry-picking intelligence to support a policy position or suppressing inconvenient facts is not only unethical, it can be dangerous.

At IIP, we emphasise analytical integrity as a professional competency. Rigour, transparency, and intellectual honesty are ethical imperatives, not optional extras.

4. Accountability Requires Courage

Unlike most professions, intelligence work often can’t be scrutinised by the public. That makes internal and independent oversight essential.

Ethics is about more than compliance. It’s about culture. Do we create environments where people can speak up? Are whistleblowers protected? Is wrongdoing addressed?

These are leadership questions and cultural ones. IIP supports capability-building that includes not just technical skills, but ethical maturity.

5. The Tech Frontier Raises New Ethical Questions

Artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and bulk data collection promise new capabilities, but also new risks.

Can we explain our decisions? Are we reinforcing bias? Have we considered consent?

Ethical intelligence work in the 21st century demands human-centred design and governance of our tools, not just technical prowess. As technology evolves, so must our ethical frameworks.

6. Ethics Shouldn’t Stop at the Border

Cross-border partnerships are vital in intelligence, but they come with risks. Practices like extraordinary rendition or surveillance outsourcing can create ethical blind spots.

The question is not “Is this legal in that jurisdiction?” but “Is this consistent with our values?”

Professionalisation means establishing shared expectations for ethical conduct, at home and in collaboration with others.

Building an Ethically Grounded Profession

The good news is that ethics in intelligence is now a growing field, with academic research, professional training, and calls for international standards. This is a positive sign. But ethics doesn’t live in frameworks alone.

It lives in:

• The questions analysts ask when reviewing a report.
• The decisions made at 3am during a live operation.
• The integrity with which leaders respond to grey areas.

At IIP, we see ethical capacity as integral to professional intelligence practice. We’re committed to equipping professionals with not just the tools of the trade, but the principles that guide their use.

Let’s Talk

If you work in intelligence, national security, policy, or adjacent fields:

• What ethical challenges do you face in your work?
• What structures or supports have helped you navigate them?