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The Next Five Years of OSINT: Trends Innovations and Challenges Transforming Investigative Landscapes
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.
Nico Dekens | dutch_osintguy
5 days ago7 min read


OSINT - Cities with hundreds of names | How OSINT investigators miss hidden clues
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.
Nico Dekens | dutch_osintguy
Jan 210 min read


What OSINT Really Is - And Why AI Keeps Getting It Wrong
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
Nico Dekens | dutch_osintguy
Dec 22, 20254 min read


Exploring the Role of OSINT in Intelligence Work and Law Enforcement Training
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.
Nico Dekens | dutch_osintguy
Dec 11, 20253 min read
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