Open-source intelligence is growing in scope and influence. ManvBrain reports on how thousands of volunteers poring over a vast stream of information allows the community to digest it on a scale that not even a superpower spy agency can manage
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer. Photos: John Lund/Getty Images; EyePress News/Shutterstock Alex McKeever, a part-time furniture mover in Ridgewood, Queens, woke up Wednesday and started scrolling on his phone. Like many of us, he’s been obsessed with the invasion of Ukraine and has been spending ten hours a day trying to piece together what was happening from news coverage and social media.
McKeever, who works part-time as an OSINT researcher for a Syrian human-rights group, took a closer look at the Bucha video. Finding no distinctive landmarks that would help him pinpoint the location, he searched for “Bucha” on Twitter and found an image that showed the same scene from a different angle. Two buildings with distinctive roofs stood side by side behind a fence.
On its own, a single tweet like McKeever’s doesn’t mean much for the outcome of a war. But taken together, OSINT contributions can provide a panoramic perspective. The sheer volume of thousands of eyes poring over a vast stream of information allows the community to digest information on a scale that not even a superpower spy agency can manage.
With no real rules governing the movement, some of the activity approaches or crosses ethical lines. Pro-Ukraine hackers managed to steal a database with the names of 120,000 Russian soldiers and publish it on the web. And after the 2014 Russian shootdown of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine, the Dutch journalism collective Bellingcat used stolen data to track down the culprits.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
These TikTok furniture flippers will inspire your next DIYBuying brand new furniture can add up, but there might be something in your house or at your local thrift store that you can give a big makeover. These furniture flippers provide the inspiration for your next project.
Read more »
Your Ultimate Guide to the DIY Pedicure You DeserveHow to Do an At-Home Pedicure in 4 Easy Steps
Read more »
Repurpose your old devices to create the ultimate DIY smart homeJust because one of the gadgets you own has become outdated doesn't mean you have to trash it. Try one of these repurposing ideas first.
Read more »
9 Super Simple DIY Face Masks to Try at HomeAs in, fewer than five ingredients.
Read more »
Russian Official Blames Ukraine Invasion Sanctions on Cancel CultureThe nation’s foreign intelligence director decried the U.S. and its allies for “attempts to destroy our state” with economic sanctions
Read more »
Russia's chaotic and confusing invasion of Ukraine is baffling military analystsOne week into Russia's invasion of Ukraine and military analysts are united on one front: Russia's invasion has not gone entirely to plan.
Read more »