Open Source Intelligence Training (OSINT)
| Module title | Open Source Intelligence Training (OSINT) |
|---|---|
| Module code | SECM028 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Martin Robson (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 24 |
|---|
Module description
Technology will remain an essential and pervasive element of the future operating environment and a key driver of military change. Increasingly, defence and security systems will rely on exploiting commercial research and innovation. Literacy and awareness of these developments, as well as sharing knowledge amongst diverse communities will lead to innovative approaches to challenges in on- and off-line operational environments. This course will cover: open source for analysts, information collection planning, corroboration and validation. It will include practical training on the up-to-date tools and techniques available to collect and analyse open source information. The training will also cover concepts around methodology, approach and footprint management.
The assessments on this module only apply to those who wish to attain academic credit from the short course.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This 3-day training course has two major learning objectives. First, the course will enable participants to use open source methodologies to collect and analyse information available online safely and effectively. Second, it will introduce participants to cognitive biases and pathologies that can undermine intelligence analysis and explore how to counter these using structured analytical techniques.
The Open Source Source and Structured Analytical Technique (SAT) outcomes are listed in the ILOs below.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Understand how to collect open source information online, including from multimedia open sources, safely and effectively
- 2. Develop a strong understanding of footprint management issues
- 3. Tools, heuristics and facilitative techniques to improve analytical practice and the use of Analysis of Competing Hypotheses (ACH)
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Understand and reflect on common cognitive biases in intelligence analysis
- 5. Understand the evolving social media landscape, including features of culture/language-relevant social media platforms
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Learn new up-to-date tools and techniques to verify and analyse open source information, including information from multimedia
- 7. Assess the strengths and limitations of approaches to social media analysis for reporting requirements
- 8. Understand how to hone tools to deal with volume and maximise efficiency in search and analysis and to conduct online investigations anonymously
Syllabus plan
It is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
|
Day One |
Day Two |
Day Three |
|
Introduction, Course Objectives and Set-up |
Source validation and content verification – misinformation and disinformation Part 2 |
SOCMINT Analysis Ethics and Open Sources |
|
Morning Break |
Morning Break |
Morning Break |
|
Introduction to open sources, open source challenge & opportunities |
Searching the surface and deep web: tools and techniques Part 1 |
Intelligence collection strategies Structured analytical techniques |
|
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
|
Operating model and technology |
Searching the surface and deep web: tools and techniques Part 2 |
Syndicate exercise |
|
Afternoon Tea |
Afternoon Tea |
Afternoon Tea |
|
Source validation and content verification – misinformation and disinformation Part 1 |
SOCMINT: searching social media: tools & techniques |
Syndicate exercise wrap-up, Resources and Feedback |
|
Course Dinner at Hotel |
|
|
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | 131 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 19 | 3-day in-person course |
| Guided independent study | 131 | Reading, preparation for assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Plan | 750 words | 1-7 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 100 | 2,000 words | 1-7 | Written feedback with percentage grade |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay (2000 words) | Essay (2000 words) | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral Period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to redo the assessment(s) as defined above. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- NGOs and Think Tanks
- DataJournalism.com: Silverman, C. (ed)(2020) Verification Handbook (select a few chapters*)
- RAND Corporation: Williams, H. and Blum, I. (2018) Defining Second Generation Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) for the Defense Enterprise *
- Routgers Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience (2020) Cyber Swarming, Memetic Warfare and Viral Insurgency: How Domestic Militants Organize on Memes to Incite Violent Insurrection and Terror Against Government and Law Enforcement
• Open source analysis in practice
- Eurpol (2019) Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment *
- United States Central Intelligence Agency (2014) Lowenthal, M. OSINT: The state of the art, the artless state
- United States Central Intelligence Agency (2016) Intelligence Officers’ Bookshelf
- United States Marine Corps (2017) Open-source intelligence*
- United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence (last update: 2019) Open Source Center and OSC Products
· Open source analysis in practice
- Confessore, N. et al (2018) The follower factory (New York Times)
- Fiorella, G. (2020) Historic Bombing Runs: The Memphis Belle Case (Bellingcat)
- Tokmetzis, D. (2019) How they did it: exposing right-wing radicalisation on YouTube
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 06/09/2023 |
| Last revision date | 26/09/2023 |