The intelligence community needs to effectively harness open source intelligence and transform itself to take advantage of the information revolution.
The intelligence community should tap into the private sector for innovative technologies and expertise in open source intelligence.
Deep dives
The Importance of Open Source Intelligence
Open source intelligence refers to publicly available information that can be accessed through the internet such as postings on social media, terrorist videos, public speeches, or satellite imagery from commercial satellites. The value of open source intelligence lies in putting together different pieces of publicly available information to gain valuable insights. For example, the locations and routines of military bases were discovered by analyzing publicly available data from Fitbit devices worn by troops. However, while open source intelligence can be beneficial, it also poses risks to national security, as adversaries can exploit the same information. The podcast discusses the need for the intelligence community to effectively harness open source intelligence and transform itself to take advantage of the information revolution.
The Role of the Private Sector in Open Source Intelligence
The podcast highlights the importance of the intelligence community tapping into the private sector for innovative technologies and expertise in open source intelligence. It states that most cutting-edge developments in technology are originating from the private sector rather than the government. The intelligence community needs to adopt and scale these innovations faster to keep pace with the changing world. By engaging with the private sector, intelligence agencies can benefit from the advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities that can effectively analyze and make sense of the massive amount of open source data available.
Sharing and Collaboration in Open Source Intelligence
The podcast discusses the benefits of open source intelligence in terms of sharing information. Unlike classified intelligence, open source information is shareable within the US government, with other countries, and even with the public. This openness allows for increased collaboration and attention to important issues. However, the podcast also acknowledges the risks associated with sharing open source information, as adversaries and competitors can also utilize it. It highlights the need for careful oversight and evaluation, particularly for local law enforcement organizations and their use of technological tools like facial recognition algorithms.
The Need for a Standalone Open Source Intelligence Agency
The podcast explores the idea of creating a standalone open source intelligence agency to address the growing importance of open source information in intelligence gathering. The agency would focus on harnessing cutting-edge technologies and talent from the private sector. It argues that existing intelligence agencies might not give open source intelligence the attention it deserves due to their emphasis on clandestine operations and classified information. By establishing a dedicated agency, the intelligence community can help safeguard national security by leveraging the power of open source information more effectively.
Hoover Institution cybersecurity expert Amy Zegart talks with Jeanne Meserve about the urgent need for US spy agencies to better exploit open source intelligence, and ‘Mindhunter’ coauthor Mark Olshaker discusses with Jeff Stein how two sex predators in the CIA got away with it.
