Episode 12: Open Source Intelligence (OSINT)

In this episode, we explore the potential of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), which is publicly available information including (as discussed in our prior episodes) the social-media posts, smartphone photos, commercial drone videos, and commercial satellite imagery used by Ukraine to locate and target Russian forces. We discuss the challenges of integrating unclassified OSINT with more traditional forms of classified intelligence information. We address the fast-growing number of companies that are transforming publicly available data into OSINT, challenges faced by intelligence services with processing and analyzing the sheer volume of OSINT data available, and the fact that OSINT means keeping government clandestine operations secret is more difficult today (noting, for example, the social media furor over the Chinese spy balloons in US airspace a few months ago). 

Mike Scheimer: Contact
Tim Bergreen: Contact