Spotting the Pattern: How OSINT Technology Is Combating Online Extremism
In an era where digital footprints are as telling as fingerprints, the fight against extremism has moved online—and so must our defenses. In his compelling article, “Spotting the Pattern” (Intersec, February 2025), Dr. Brenton Cooper, CEO and Co-founder of Fivecast, makes a powerful case for the urgent adoption of AI-powered open-source intelligence (OSINT) to counter the growing threat of online radicalisation.
The Digital Battlefield
Dr. Cooper paints a stark picture of today’s threat landscape. From far-right extremists to Islamic terror groups, the internet has become the primary battleground for radicalisation. Alarmingly, one in eight terrorism suspects in the UK is under 18, with many drawn in through online platforms like Discord, Reddit, and even mainstream social media.
The article highlights how extremist content is designed to attract the young, isolated, and angry, often using memes, videos, and conspiracy theories to build a sense of belonging and purpose. The result? A surge in mass casualty events, many perpetrated by individuals radicalised entirely online.
Why OSINT Matters
The sheer volume of online data makes manual monitoring impossible. That’s where OSINT comes in. By combining ethical AI, machine learning, and natural language processing, OSINT platforms can:
- Detect radicalising content across text, images, and video
- Identify behavioral patterns and digital risk indicators
- Track extremist networks and online influence
- Operate across multiple languages and platforms, including the Dark Web
This technology doesn’t replace human analysts – it empowers them. With smart prioritization and automated analysis, OSINT tools help intelligence teams stay ahead of evolving threats.
Augmented Intelligence for a Safer Future
Dr. Cooper emphasizes the importance of a holistic, intuitive OSINT platform that integrates seamlessly into intelligence workflows. With public resources stretched and extremist tactics evolving, the case for AI-enabled OSINT has never been stronger.
“We are never going to live in a world where there are enough intelligence analysts with the right skills to manually examine the huge volumes of data on global social media platforms.” – Dr. Brenton Cooper
Read the Full Article
To dive deeper into how OSINT is transforming counter-terrorism efforts, read the full article ‘Spotting the Pattern’ by Dr. Brenton Cooper in Intersec.
