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AI isn’t just speeding up OSINT - it’s reshaping what investigators and leaders believe is true. As hallucinations, data poisoning, and AI-generated narratives flood the information space, critical thinking is collapsing inside intelligence cycles. This blog exposes how AI-shaped distortions already influence investigations, threat intelligence, and decision-making and what must be done to stop the next intelligence failure.

I’ve been thinking a lot about why conversations around OSINT feel increasingly shallow, even though the tools we use have never been more powerful. We have more data, automation, dashboards and AI-generated summaries than at any point in the history of intelligence. And yet, when I look at how conclusions are drawn, how confidence is expressed, and how often assumptions go unchallenged, I can’t escape a deeply uncomfortable feeling: We are collecting more than ever and thin

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is entering its most disruptive era yet. What was once a clear, open landscape is splintering into disappearing data, platform restrictions, AI-driven deception, and geopolitical pressure that reshapes information in real time. OSINT is no longer just about collecting data, it’s about surviving a shifting environment that will redefine how investigators work in the next five years.

You think you know Amsterdam? You don’t. Even if you’re born and raised there. For OSINT investigators, analysts, and journalists, searching only for “Amsterdam” means missing half the signal. The city hides behind slang, symbols, codes, and multilingual aliases. This post shows how language masks location, why alias awareness matters, and how Boolean and regex uncover Amsterdam’s hidden digital footprint across the open web, social media, and the dark web.

OSINT isn’t about collecting public data, AI already does that better than humans. OSINT is about pressure-testing reality. In digital investigations, organisational security, and business risk, OSINT turns fragmented public signals into defensible understanding. As AI increases visibility but not judgment, OSINT remains a human discipline: questioning sources, timelines, intent, and absence. This article breaks down what OSINT really is, how it’s used, why businesses rely on

OSINT intelligence from publicly available sources has become essential in modern investigations. When paired with HUMINT, it strengthens threat detection, verification, and operational planning. Together, they offer deeper insight, improved accuracy, and faster decision-making, making OSINT training vital for today’s law enforcement and intelligence professionals.

A 13-year-old boy sat gaming after school while someone he’d never met groomed him in a private chat. His mother sensed the shift only when his humour sharpened, his tone hardened, and his words echoed patterns seen in the AIVD’s 2025 report. This wasn’t curiosity, it was reshaping. And it’s not rare anymore. Across the world, children are being radicalised entirely online, often before adults notice.

If you want to know why teens feel broken, watch a fresh account for thirty minutes. It starts with jokes and ends in panic attacks, body shame, and self-diagnosis. Kids aren’t searching for this. The algorithm is choosing their emotions for them, one scroll at a time

Human intelligence is powerful, but incomplete without digital validation. Based on real-world investigations, this blog explores why HUMINT operators, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies must embed OSINT to verify assets, expose hidden online behaviors, prevent deception, and generate trustworthy intelligence in a hybrid, global threat landscape.

Breaking into the OSINT field can feel overwhelming, whether you want to become an analyst, investigator, developer, or instructor. The path is clearer once you understand key roles, essential skills, and how to position yourself. With the right training, networking, and a targeted resume, applying for an OSINT job becomes far easie

You’ve got mountains of data at your fingertips. But how do you turn that raw chaos into sharp, actionable intelligence? That’s where data analysis for OSINT comes in. It’s not just a buzzword or a fancy tool. It's the secret weapon that transforms scattered bits of information into a clear, strategic advantage. If you’re serious about cracking cases, tracking threats, or securing cyberspace, mastering this skill is non-negotiable.

Intelligence reports turn raw OSINT data into actionable insight. After two decades in the field, one lesson stands out: collection means nothing without clear communication. The real value lies in analysis, connecting patterns, interpreting meaning, and shaping evidence into a coherent narrative. Effective reports guide decision-makers with clarity, structure, and purpose, tailored to the audience’s needs.

The biggest threat in OSINT isn’t lack of data. It’s ego. The moment you think you understand the dataset, you stop learning from it. The moment you think you can’t be surprised, you stop being useful. Black Swans don’t hide, they just look irrelevant until they change everything. Your dashboard doesn’t need more data. It needs more doubt.

Explore the future of OSINT with AI as we delve into the next two decades of advancements. Discover how OSINT and AI will redefine tradecraft.

Walk through an old temple in Luxor or Karnak, and you’re surrounded by symbols that once carried life-and-death meaning. Hieroglyphics...

A field rant about shortcuts, ego, and other creative ways to waste everyone’s time Let’s just say the quiet part out loud: most of...

This isn’t a rant against AI. I use it daily, ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Gemini. They’re in my workflow like everyone else’s. But the tradecraft is slipping. Analysts are skipping the hard parts. They’re trusting GenAI to do the heavy cognitive lifting, and it’s changing how we operate at a foundational level.

Often I get the question: Hey Nico, do you know any good geolocation or mapping sources that are not so well known? Mapping tools are...

Finding valuable information within OSINT investigations often requires looking beyond the surface. Social media, blogs, and forums are...

Image by Mary Rabun Most true ‘OSINTians’ are members of a small group who go public. They go public on their skills, knowledge and...