Police use of open source intelligence: The longer arm of law

Abstract

While the internet and online social networks have positively enriched societal communications and economic opportunities, these technological advancements have changed—and continue to change—the very nature of crime, serving to breed a new sophisticated and technically capable criminal. Furthermore, the borderless nature of the phenomenon of cybercrime and the transnational dimensions of human trafficking, drugs importation and the illegal movement of firearms, cash and stolen goods means that criminals can plan their crimes from jurisdictions across the world, making law enforcement particularly challenging, the very reason why LEAs must maximise the potential of OSINT and seek new and innovative ways to prevent crime. Hence, it is essential for all practitioners, policy-makers and policing professionals to understand what OSINT is and what it is not, how it can be used and the limitations or conditions on it, as well as understanding more about the scale, scope and complexity of the threats from criminals whose methods of operating are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The purpose of this chapter is to explain the role and function of OSINT within the context of policing and existing intelligence collection disciplines, as well as to define OSINT from an LEA perspective and describe its position within the intelligence profession of policing.