The journey of digital transformation in intelligence organizations

Abstract

This introduction to the special issue explores how digital technologies are reshaping intelligence organizations. It frames digital transformation not as a linear process but as a complex journey shaped by technological, organizational, and institutional factors. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives and contributions from multiple national contexts, the issue investigates how intelligence agencies handle the disruptive potential of digital tools, from big data to artificial intelligence, and navigate the tension between innovation and institutional inertia. It highlights the need for strategic adaptation, public-private collaboration, and human-machine integration while stressing the enduring importance of core intelligence principles. Through empirical analysis and critical reflection from researchers and practitioners, this issue offers a nuanced account of how intelligence services evolve amid rapid technological change.