Two Paradigms of Open- Source Use: Investigation and Situational Awareness
Purpose:
The article examines whether contemporary uses of open sources are best understood as a single activity or as two distinct paradigms. It is argued that the growing diversity of open-source practices has produced a functional differentiation between investigative and situational OSINT, which serve different decision-support needs.
Design/Methods/Approach:
Conceptual analysis based on literature from intelligence studies, OSINT research, journalism, digital investigations and situational awareness. A review is made of the historical evolution of OSINT, debates over its status as an intelligence discipline, and the impact of digital platforms and artificial intelligence.
Findings:
Two paradigms are identified. Investigative OSINT emphasises attribution, evidence and accountability, whereas situational OSINT stresses monitoring, warning, and decision support. The paradigms vary in their objectives, verification standards, outputs, and measures of success. This distinction may also be understood as one between open-source investigations and open-source intelligence.
Practical Implications:
The proposed framework suggests that investigative and situational OSINT should be organised, trained, governed and evaluated differently. Guidance is offered to intelligence organisations, law-enforcement agencies, journalists, researchers and policymakers.
Originality/Value:
A conceptual framework is proposed where investigative OSINT is distinguished from situational OSINT, which demonstrates how each supports different intelligence functions, including attribution, situational awareness, warning, and decision support.
UDC: 355.40
Keywords: open-source intelligence (OSINT); open-source investigations; situational awareness; decision support; intelligence studies