Word up: learning foreign languages for OSINT with Skip Schiphorst

Language can limit or expand your worldview. That’s important to remember in OSINT where what you’re able to find and analyze can greatly affect the intelligence you build. Skip Schiphorst, OSINT instructor at i-Intelligence, shares his expertise on why even baseline knowledge of a foreign language is important in a world flush with translation services; how foreign language content can counteract bias; and tips for verifying automated translations.

Key takeaways

• You can find a lot more online than you may think by using foreign languages — even those using non-Latin characters
• You don’t need to be a ninja with years of training to find foreign content online, or outsource everything to language experts
• Know the basics of OSINT, be critical and be patient when searching online in a foreign language