Without question, TIA represented a radical leap ahead in both data-mining technology and intelligence analysis.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Balancing security and privacy during wartime

The staggering, and fast-growing, information-crunching capabilities of data-mining technology broaden the definition of what is considered suspicious.

ECONOMIST: Data mining

Suzanne Spaulding, a former legal adviser to the Senate and House intelligence committees, says improvements in data-mining technology have enabled intelligence agencies to milk favourable court rulings in ways that exceed judicial intent.

ECONOMIST: Data mining

Unlike with traditional TV campaigns, advertisers online can increasingly target commercials at precisely the right sort of people, using sophisticated data mining and tracking technology.

BBC: Your views: Are targeted online adverts too intrusive?

In the advent of big data mining and the Internet of all things, we have the technology to absolutely tailor our campaigns.

FORBES: Think More, Think Local

The most successful of these new Big Data mining toolmakers and consultants will likely be those that first master and then advance the technology of data compression.

FORBES: The Big Data Gold Rush

Recent advances in analytic technology and data visualization has neutralized the advantage held by statisticians, data mining experts and actuarials with advanced degrees in predictive analytics and operations research.

FORBES: Why Business Leaders Must Master Data And Analytics

So in the past few years, Anglo American (mining), Billiton (mining), Old Mutual (insurance), South African Breweries and Dimension Data (a hugely successful information-technology company) have all sought primary listings elsewhere.

ECONOMIST: A survey of South Africa