Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is the process of collecting, analysing, and utilizing information that is publicly and commercially available to support intelligence and decisionmaking processes. It has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Deriving from the Publicly Available Information (PAI) that is accessible to anyone with a few clicks of a mouse on the Internet, OSINT has become a preferred method in various sectors, ranging from national security and intelligence to competitive analysis and investigative journalism.
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OSINT allows its users to gather insights and make informed decisions without necessarily relying on
sensitive or classified data.
This Study Report is aimed at senior management in Customs administrations who are interested in examining the possibility of introducing OSINT into their enforcement practices. Its objective is to provide a comprehensive review of how WCO Member Customs administrations can unlock the value of OSINT. Since OSINT is a very young discipline, and relatively few Customs administrations have started leveraging its value, this Study Report should be considered as a step towards laying the foundation of OSINT in Customs
enforcement.
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The Study Report demonstrates the benefits of OSINT for Customs administrations, offering
critical information for implementing OSINT practices within Customs operations by answering
three key questions:
I. Why OSINT matters for Customs administrations, and what value added it offers;
II. How Customs administrations can leverage OSINT, and
III. How OSINT can be implemented within the administration, and how to address certain
challenges arising from this process.
To address
these questions, the Study Report is divided into four chapters. The first chapter
examines the notion of OSINT and its evolution over time. The second chapter provides
information on the applications of OSINT in different functional areas of Customs enforcement.
The third chapter is dedicated to the use case related to the implementation of OSINT in
Strategic Trade Controls, while the final chapter suggests an analysis of OSINT
implementation with the use of SWOT (strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats)
methodology, the identification of key success factors, and proposed strategies to address
challenges and limitations arising from OSINT implementation.
The findings of this Study Report reveal that the accessibility and cost-effectiveness of OSINT,
when compared with obtaining classified or proprietary information, along with its low barriers
to entry and the timeliness of the information it provides compared to the often outdated
information derived from classified sources, offer immense opportunities for Customs
administrations.
OSINT can also serve as a catalyst in enhancing other forms of intelligence
(such as the human intelligence that is widely used in Customs enforcement) by providing
additional context and insights that allow more comprehensive conclusions to be drawn. At the
same time, due to its constantly evolving and collaborative nature, OSINT can serve as a
stepping stone to promote and support ongoing developments in the adoption of the latest
information and communications technology (ICT), international and inter-agency cooperation,
as well as continuous learning.
