Open Source Intelligence and Military Intelligence

30.06.2022 | Kazım Mehmet EROL

In the information age we live in, it is seen that open-source intelligence (OSINT), which become increasingly voluminous and effective, sheds light on issues and assists to elaborate and understand them by all intelligence analysts/collectors and decision-makers. From media sources in different languages to social media platforms and online maps to reports of NGOs and diplomatic/military institutes, OSINT provides with means of obtaining intelligence in a grift and mosaic structure. Intelligence is the main driving and supporting force in the planning process of military operations. In order to exploit the sources more effectively military intelligence collection efforts should be planned and reviewed properly. Diverse and ominous environments such as hybrid war, information operations and cyberspace complicated the theatre. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to be able to adequately benefit from OSINT, which has the potential to meet the needs of all these environments and offers a wide range of opportunities. In this article, two main arguments are emphasized, namely that the current potential of OSINT is not adequately benefited in military intelligence and even in the areas OSINT is utilized in military intelligence it lacks appropriate methods and processes. The aim of the study is to demonstrate that OSINT can be a valuable discipline in the field of military intelligence if appropriate methods are applied and used in coordination with other intelligence disciplines. For this purpose, first of all the general situation of OSINT and military intelligence, its development in the historical process, the use of OSINT in military intelligence at different levels and its relationship with other intelligence tools, and finally the OSINT process, methods and applications were examined.

Erol, K.M. (2022). Open-Source Intelligence and Military Intelligence. Journal of Intelligence Research and Studies, 1(1), pp. 23-59, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29228/trad.4