Social network analysis is also used in intelligence , counter-intelligence and law enforcement activities . This technique allows the analysts to map covert organizations such as a espionage ring , an organized crime family or a street gang . The National Security Agency ( NSA ) uses its clandestine mass electronic surveillance programs to generate the data needed to perform this type of analysis on terrorist cells and other networks deemed relevant to national security . The NSA looks up to three nodes deep during this network analysis . After the initial mapping of the social network is complete , analysis is performed to determine the structure of the network and determine , for example , the leaders within the network . This allows military or law enforcement assets to launch capture-or-kill decapitation attacks on the high-value targets in leadership positions to disrupt the functioning of the network . The NSA has been performing social network analysis on call detail records ( CDRs ) , also known as metadata , since shortly after the September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Social network analysis