If there is anything I have learned in my time as an investigative journalist and a restorative justice professional, its this: Information is abundant and trust is fragile.
As a result, open source investigations are increasingly a vital tool for journalists, activists, legal professionals, and everyday citizens alike.
Open source intelligence (OSINT) involves collecting and analyzing publicly available information to uncover hidden truths, verify events, and hold powerful institutions accountable.
And it’s all possible without breaching privacy laws or hacking. Woot!
Whether you’re investigating injustice (’cause let’s be honest, who isn’t right now?), uncovering corporate misconduct, or verifying news stories, learning to conduct an open source investigation ethically and effectively is a powerful skill.
What Is Open Source Investigation?
Open source investigation refers to the process of gathering and analyzing information that is publicly accessible, including:
- News articles
- Court records
- Government databases
- Public records
- Social media posts
- Satellite imagery
- Business registrations
- Video footage
- Online forums
- Nonprofit research and reports
It does not involve illegal access to private information (e.g., hacking emails, breaking into databases). OSINT relies solely on materials legally available to the public.
Steps to Conduct an Open Source Investigation
1. Define Your Objective
Before you dive into the sea of information, clearly define what you’re investigating.
Ask yourself:
- What am I trying to prove, verify, or uncover?
- What kind of evidence would be considered credible?
- What time frame and locations are relevant?
A clear objective keeps your research focused and prevents you from getting lost in unrelated data, i.e., rabbit holes.
2. Develop a Research Plan
This might take a while, and you may need to tackle it in phases. So save yourself the headache and plan your approach based on your objective:
- What sources might contain relevant information?
- Which keywords, hashtags, or dates will you search?
- What names, companies, or locations are connected to your investigation?
Sketching a research map before you start can save hours of scattered searching later.
3. Gather Public Records and Official Data
Official records provide a strong foundation for many investigations:
- Court Records: Search for lawsuits, criminal cases, or bankruptcy filings.
- Business Registrations: Look up company ownership, financial disclosures, and licensing.
- Property Records: Identify real estate holdings linked to individuals or organizations.
- Government Reports: Find regulatory violations, environmental reports, or audit findings.
- Campaign Finance Documents: Every state has one! Counties, too. If they don’t have online access, make a call to your local clerk.
Many records are available online through government portals, although some may require in-person retrieval.
4. Use Social Media and Online Platforms
Social media is a goldmine for OSINT, but it must be approached carefully:
- Archived Posts: Deleted tweets or posts may still exist in archives or screenshots.
- Geo-location Data: Check metadata in posts or photos for location information.
- Network Analysis: Examine connections between people (friends, followers, shared posts).
Tools like Wayback Machine (my personal favorite) and Social Searcher can also help uncover hidden or deleted information.
5. Analyze Photos and Videos
Visual evidence can be crucial for so many things:
- Reverse Image Search: Use tools like Google Reverse Image Search or TinEye to find the origin of images.
- Metadata Analysis: EXIF data (when available) can reveal when and where a photo was taken.
- Geolocation: Match landmarks in images with maps or street views to verify locations.
Organizations like Bellingcat have published excellent guides for forensic photo and video analysis.
6. Verify, Cross-Reference, and Document Everything
Verification aka (CYA, cover your ass) is the mantra at the center of open source investigation:
- Cross-reference every finding with at least two independent sources.
- Look for original sources rather than relying on secondary reports.
- Archive important pages or posts using tools like the Wayback Machine.
Keep meticulous notes and citations; if your investigation is challenged, you need to show your process.
7. Respect Ethics and Privacy
Even though information is publicly available, ethical considerations matter:
- Avoid doxxing (publishing private information intended to cause harm).
- Minimize harm when possible, especially for vulnerable individuals.
- Always verify before publishing; false accusations can cause serious damage and legal ramifications.
Ethical OSINT practitioners adhere to standards that prioritize truth, fairness, and respect for human dignity.
Common Tools for Open Source Investigations
Are you ready to get started? Build your toolkit first! Here are some basic tools widely used by investigators:
- Google Dorks: Advanced search operators for more precise Google searches.
- Wayback Machine: Archive of old or deleted web pages.
- Social Searcher: Social media monitoring and search.
- OSINT Framework: A curated list of OSINT tools and resources (osintframework.com).
- Maltego: Advanced link analysis for mapping connections.
Using ChatGPT to Support Open Source Investigations
ChatGPT is not a replacement for direct data collection, but it can be a valuable tool in open source investigations.
It can help you:
- brainstorm investigative strategies
- Generate keyword lists
- Suggest databases to search
- Outline research plans]
- Assist in summarizing and organizing findings to include documentation, saving you a ton of time.
It can also simulate different search approaches based on known OSINT methods. However, it’s important to verify any factual information independently, as ChatGPT does not access real-time databases or classified records, and unfortunately, can hallucinate.
When used thoughtfully, AI can enhance efficiency and organization in OSINT workflows without replacing the need for human critical thinking and verification.
Open Source Investigation Empowers Truth Seekers
Open source investigations democratize information gathering. With the right skills, anyone can verify events, expose injustices, or hold institutions accountable — without needing expensive equipment or insider connections.
In a world flooded with misinformation, learning how to ethically gather and verify open-source intelligence is not just a skill; it’s a responsibility.
Sources:
- Bellingcat – OSINT How-To Guides
- National Security Agency – Open Source Intelligence Resources
- Center for Investigative Journalism – Open Source Tools
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