In this blog our Tradecraft Advisor examines the role of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) in enhancing investigative interviews. Discover how these tools can fill intelligence gaps and provide insights for more effective interviews.
Using OSINT to Inform the Investigator’s Interview Process
It is common practice for an investigator to make a plan before an interview to ensure the success of an interview. Interviews are a crucial part of most investigations and collecting relevant data prior to conducting an interview can determine how successful that interview is. While there are many different approaches and techniques that can lead to successful interviews, today we will focus on one of the most potentially enlightening, but often overlooked sources of pre-interview insights – open-source intelligence (OSINT), with a focus on social media intelligence (SOCMINT). In this blog, we will explore how OSINT and SOCMINT can help an interviewer prepare for an interview.
Filling Intelligence gaps with Open-Source Research
Open-source research prior to an interview can identify and help fill in any intelligence gaps, allowing interviewers to spend more time on other areas of interest. SOCMINT is the latest in a lengthy line of intelligence feeds that can be harnessed in pursuit of national security, defense, security vetting, and corporate security missions. We live in the age of social media, where the reflection of people’s lives in the digital public sphere is growing at an unprecedented rate. In the United States, the average person has over seven social media accounts and spends more than two hours a day on social media platforms [Belle Wong, 2023].
Gaining Insights into Behavior, Relationships, and Patterns
OSINT and SOCMINT can provide unique insights into an individual’s behavior, relationships, and daily patterns. These insights are invaluable for interviewers, as they help establish rapport and steer the conversation towards more productive outcomes. While rapport involves more than just connecting over shared interests, knowing real-time publicly available information, such as a person’s favorite sports team or hobbies, can foster empathy and connection. Whether the goal of the interview is to elicit a confession, collect intelligence, or achieve another objective, having comprehensive background information enables interviewers to ask questions and guide the interview effectively. An effective OSINT program not only informs the interviewer’s direct questions but also plays a crucial role in creating an environment that encourages the interviewee to open up and provide valuable information regarding the investigation.
Enhancing Interview Efficiency with OSINT
One of the benefits of integrating OSINT and SOCMINT into the interview process is the ability to uncover real-time data on networks, movements and emerging threats, which can be critical to an investigation. By utilizing an OSINT platform like Fivecast ONYX, interviewers can save valuable time and resources. This technology eliminates the need to manually sift through vast amounts of online data, allowing interviewers to quickly identify the most pertinent risks and threats before conducting time-sensitive interviews.
The Essential Role of OSINT in Modern Investigations
In conclusion, strategically applying OSINT and SOCMINT in preparing for investigative interviews can dramatically enhance their effectiveness. Data from online sources offers a wealth of information that can shape the direction and tone of an interview. By leveraging data from diverse online sources, interviewers can build rapport more easily, ask more insightful questions, and bridge crucial intelligence gaps. As we navigate through an era where digital footprints are expansive and revealing, incorporating OSINT and SOCMINT into the interview preparation process is not just advantageous — it’s essential for a thorough and successful investigation.
