The emergence of Big Drone Data? Analyzing debates on drones as data gathering means in intelligence

While their meaning for targeted killings in counter-terrorism operations has been emphasized, drones assume an important role in the rise of Big Data. By long-term surveillance, drones gather imagery on possible suspects, war zones and border regions. This data can be used by intelligence agencies in order to optimize operations, such as targeted killings. As during long-term surveillance, a great amount of data is gathered, drones add another dimension to the Big Data-nexus. This paper will investigate which debates revolve about the role that drones assume in the use of Big Data in intelligence by explaining shifts in the intelligence cycle that have been caused through Big Data.