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The largest expansion in the information environment is now noticeable in the Social Media domain . The coverage of historical events , like the Ukraine crisis , has been massive and timely . Social media is often the first and main source of information . The results obtained through the analysis of pictures , videos , geo-location and links are amazing tools for our understanding of adversaries ’ propaganda . Social media is a platform that should not be sidestepped or ignored .
What OSINT is not ! It is not , or at least not only , a summary of the news or media reporting . OSINT should represent the application of intelligence processes to a global range of sources , with the aim of producing tailored intelligence for the commander . OSINT is , like other single source Intel disciplines , a contributing source to an all-source intelligence effort . Open sources could be used to compliment the already available classified intelligence , as well as to answer to specific intelligence need to which they are best optimized , but also to establish a very robust common foundation for other intelligence disciplines , reducing so the demands on intelligence collection resources and limiting the requests for information only to some specific questions .
LANDCOM Nowadays , if compared to the needs ,
LANDCOM is lacking its own intelligence collection assets , especially considering the non-traditional operating areas and transnational threats in which LANDCOM is focusing its attention . Rather than relying mostly on national assets , an effective OSINT capability allows intelligence staffs to answer many intelligence requirements with internal resources .
Addressing a recognized intelligence gap in his structure , LANDCOM recently established a pilot Open Source cell in addition to HUMINT , SIGINT , IMINT as a kind of new Single Source , with the main task to fully support the all-source analysts ’ teams . Almost pioneers in a NATO environment , with only few predecessors , and no approved NATO doctrine nor policy available , LANDCOM G2 made a pioneering effort in research , restructuring and optimizing the best procedures to be able to produce added value to the Intelligence effort .
Big strides have been made in the niche sector of extremists ’ publications like magazines , newspapers , and newsletters . LAND- COM G2 Open Source cell is systematically collecting , comparing and analyzing them , with attention in both contents and statistical data , to help the leadership achieve a better understanding of extremism and this phenomenon .
Challenges for OSINT
OSINT is a big opportunity for intelligence community , but it presents some challenges that have to be addressed . First , the greatest challenge an OSINT intelligence professional faces is the overwhelming amounts of information gathered . This can be avoided , or limited , with the most narrowed and tailored information requirements plan possible . Vague or non-specific requirements submitted to analysts can cause large gaps in time and prevent a commander from receiving the correct answer to his requirement . Second , a lack of approved NATO doctrine and policy can create ambiguity and imprecision . Third , NATO nations are currently debating how to approach Social Media related issues . Key considerations include : legal details involving people , their personal rights , privacy and copyright aspects . Fourth , a big shortfall NATO-wide is the unavailability of different language translators . Nowadays extremists are releasing a huge amount of information that OSINT is barely able to track . Large efforts should be put in that direction , to be able to keep up the pace of understanding them . Finally , but not less important , covering all the
OSINT phases , Operations Security ( OPSEC ) is of course paramount . Surfing the Internet could represent a risk , and security measures ( both in the procedures and in the tools utilized ) must be established and followed in order to safeguard the NATO and LANDCOM information environment .
Conclusion
World is changing rapidly . All kinds of information travel faster and with fewer restrictions than in the past , while our countries are struggling to allocate the resources needed to monitor them in order to prevent , or react , to the threats they are facing . An efficient OSINT capability could be one way to address that need . The ratio costs / results is very convenient , compared to many other Intelligence assets . OSINT is naturally destined to grow in importance . If well directed and tasked by a leadership aware of the potential , specialized and well-trained OSINT operators can maximize the quality and effectiveness of Intelligence in providing the Commander Situational Awareness .
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