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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.

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.

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.

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

OSINT is about focusing on possibilities. But sometimes we get stuck or things we planned simply didn’t work as planned. We all know when...

Often i get asked if i’ve got some pointers and tools for OPSEC during online investigations. My primary answer would be first: I can’t...