Expertise hubs and the credibility challenge for open-source intelligence: insights from usage patterns of a web-controlled radio receiver and related Twitter traffic in the Ukraine war

European Security, vol. 34, pp. 324–344

Abstract

This article analyses how new open-source intelligence methods democratise and complement traditional signals intelligence while bundling dispersed expertise required to ensure the quality of data and the confidence we can have in analysis. It examines the case of OSINT activity on web-controlled radio receivers since 2022 about Russian military communications in Ukraine. It uses network analysis to show the extent of information leakage, analysis and collaboration by various actors that perform different tasks of crowdsourcing, vetting and interpreting information to make it actionable. We advance the field in knowledge of open-source intelligence gathering, dissemination and use.

Authors 4

1. Anne van Harten

   University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Twente

   Design and Analysis of Communication Systems Group, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands

2. Shawn Donnelly corresponding Aachen Institute for Political Science

   Leiden University · University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

   University of Twente

   Institute for Political Science, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

   Public Administration Section, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands

3. Pieter-Tjerk de Boer

   University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Twente

   Design and Analysis of Communication Systems Group, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands

4. Roland van Rijswijk-Deij

   University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Twente

   Design and Analysis of Communication Systems Group, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands