But what exactly is open-source intelligence?
And how is it helping efforts to understand whats happening on the ground in Ukraine?
At first sight, open-source intelligence seems to be a contradiction in terms.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
Examples include theFrance 24 Observersand the New York TimesVisual Investigationsteam.
What does open-source intelligence involve?
The practice is best viewed as a spectrum of activities.
At one end of the spectrum is what I term the prospector approach.
This is how many of those investigating aspects of the war in Ukraine are approaching their work.
To be successful, an aspiring open-source analyst needs to have a questioning mindset and good attention to detail.
Language skills are a bonus, but much can be done with freely availabletranslation tools.
These are the basics and anyone can pick them up.
Theres no requirement for prior training or qualifications.
Bellingcat founderEliot Higginsis a good example of this.
Hes now regarded as one of the worlds leading open-source investigators.
One is its contribution to situational awareness.
Investigators even managed to intercept andpublishunencrypted radio transmission between Russian forces.
Open-source intelligence can also be used to support prosecutions ofhuman rights violationsand war crimes.
For example, Bellingcat has been seeking totrackthe use of cluster munitions in the conflict.
These weapons,prohibitedby many states, stand out because of thepain and sufferingthey cause.
Another area of open-source intelligence activity involves countering disinformation.
Open-source intelligence researchers have played an important role in debunking false claims and exposingdisinformation.
Of course, there are plenty of challenges to navigate.
All information must be carefully assessed and verified.
What is the source?
Is the information accurate?
Are there any potential risks of using the data?
These are just some of the challenges and they shouldnt be lightly dismissed.
On balance, however, the value of open-source intelligence far outweighs any drawbacks.
This has been clearly demonstrated during the war in Ukraine so far.
