ABSTRACT
OSINT’s contribution is usually ‘measured’ in efficiency terms – inputs related to outputs. It is more useful to explore its effectiveness – what it can do for the intelligence function. In terms of efficiency OSINT claims 80 per cent of intelligence output; yet, despite this, remains ‘second-class’ to closed ‘ints’. In terms of effectiveness, it can replicate ‘secret’ sources, form the matrix to bind all other intelligence sources together, and has its own distinct attributes to offer; but, is no more a ‘silver bullet’ for policy than those same closed ‘ints’.
