The Future of Open Source Intelligence for UK National Security

Ardi Janjeva, Alexander Harris and Joe Byrne

7 June 2022Long Read

Topographic map concept. Courtesy of cherezoff / Adobe Stock.

This paper explores the use of publicly available information and open source intelligence for national security purposes, and provides recommendations for future policy development.

Watch the introduction to the paper's findings

This joint paper from RUSI and the Alan Turing Institute’s Centre for Emerging Technology and Security aims to establish an independent evidence base to inform future government policy development regarding the use of publicly available information (PAI) and open source intelligence (OSINT) for national security purposes. The findings are based on in-depth consultations with stakeholders from across academia, civil society, commercial organisations, law enforcement and the UK government.

The paper explores the extent to which the increasing proliferation of PAI – and wider accessibility of tools leveraging PAI for OSINT – is changing perceptions of modern intelligence. From this foundation, it asks what the commercial, cultural, policy and technological implications are for UK national security stakeholders.

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