Spies have always relied on technology to stay one step ahead of their adversaries. In the age of ubiquitous camera surveillance, smartphones and the internet, they now have access to more data and information than ever before. But all that technology is also making other parts of their job harder—staying undercover has become more difficult. How are the tools of the spy trade—and the role of intelligence officers themselves—evolving in the digital age?

Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Contributors: Shashank Joshi, The Economist's defence editor; General Sir Jim Hockenhull of Britain’s Strategic Command; Vice Admiral Frank “Trey” Whitworth of America’s National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; Tanja Lange of Eindhoven University of Technology. 

Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.