Open-source intelligence

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (December 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (April 2017) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Open-source intelligence" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Part of a series on
Intelligence
Phases of Intelligence
Intelligence cycle Intelligence cycle management Espionage Intelligence assessment Intelligence analysis Intelligence collection plan
Framework
Intelligence law History of espionage Intelligence failure Blowback (intelligence) Intelligence studies Intelligence sharing Intelligence requirement Total Espionage doctrine Agent handling Recruitment of spies Clandestine HUMINT operational techniques Code name Treason
Areas of Intelligence
Raw intelligence All-source intelligence Counterintelligence I.S.R. Military intelligence Clandestine human intelligence Human intelligence (intelligence gathering) Technical intelligence Cyber threat intelligence Medical intelligence Signals intelligence Open-source intelligence Imagery intelligence Acoustical intelligence Geospatial intelligence Intelligence outsourcing Basic intelligence Strategic intelligence Criminal intelligence Measurement and signature intelligence Communications intelligence Electronic intelligence Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence Telemetry intelligence Air intelligence Naval intelligence Cyber espionage Nuclear espionage Sexpionage Tradecraft
Corporate sector
Industrial espionage Marketing intelligence Market intelligence Business intelligence Commercial intelligence
People
Intelligence officer Asset (intelligence) Intelligence community Intelligence agency Private intelligence agency Cover (intelligence gathering) Foreign Intelligence Service Military attaché Mole (espionage) Cutout (espionage) Sleeper agent Atomic spies Resident spy Espionage organizations
Culture
Intelligence literature Spy fiction Spy film
v t e

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) refers to the systematic collection, evaluation, and analysis of publicly available information from open sources to produce actionable intelligence. These sources include, but are not limited to, traditional media (newspapers, radio, television), government publications, academic research, commercial databases, public websites, social media platforms, geospatial data, and technical infrastructure information.

OSINT is employed across a wide range of sectors including national security, law enforcement, corporate intelligence, journalism, cybersecurity, humanitarian aid, and academic research. It supports decision-making by providing timely, relevant, and verified insights derived from legally accessible and non-classified materials.

Unlike other forms of intelligence such as human intelligence (HUMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), or imagery intelligence (IMINT), OSINT does not rely on covert or classified means of collection. Instead, it leverages information that is freely accessible to the public, often through digital channels, though physical documents and broadcasts also remain valid sources.