Open Source Intelligence OSINT refers to information that is publicly available and is determined to have intelligence value by the collectors of the information. The goal is to identify relevant information that addresses the intelligence question and to deliver actionable insights that support an investigation. Essentially, it’s about understanding the significance of the data and providing valuable intelligence based on the collected information..
✅ OSINT sources
OSINT is drawn from publicly available material, including public records, news media, libraries, social media platforms, images and videos, and websites on the clear web as well as on the Dark web. Other open source material can come from information found in public registries and produced by public bodies where the information is required by law to be made public. These sources could include court records and land title records in many jurisdictions. However, it’s important to note that each jurisdiction has its own nuances and differences in what is available publicly.
❌ Other sources that are not OSINT
Open Source Intelligence is not information that is obtained from private or classified sources. Private conversations, such as messages between two individuals or where an organization has produced something on a restricted area of their website which can only be accessed by a few select people is not OSINT. Furthermore, information where a judicial authority is required to obtain the information is not considered publicly available information. If the information is produced by an individual, it must be in the public domain (i.e. posted on a public portion of a social media site) or must be required by law to be made public.
