The role of Open Source Intelligence in the Fight against Transnational Organized Crime - A European Perspective

Abstract

While terrorism and the internet, especially social media, has received substantial recognition in literature, this paper will address the research question of how Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) can be utilized to combat Transnational Organized Crime (TOC). As the fight against transnational organized groups is primarily a government concern, the perspective of European Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and the methodology of intelligence-led policing is placed in the center of the analysis. The link between vendors and consumers of illegal goods and services will also be investigated as it is a particularly valuable access point for OSINT given that the attention of consumers is generally captured publicly. One of the most promising applications could be identified in the context of combating human trafficking, as sexual exploitation of victims is often linked to a rich source of images which can provide specific traces. Even if the illegal business of TOC is conducted in anonymous places such as the darknet, new technological solutions of machine learning and web crawling constitute promising ways forward. Due to its unique characteristics as an intelligence discipline, OSINT, does not only provide opportunities regarding TOC, but it also has a positive impact on interagency collaboration and...