THE IMPACT OF OPEN-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE ON MODERN CONFLICTS
THE IMPACT OF OPEN-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE ON MODERN CONFLICTS

Author(s): Marius-Daniel IONIȚĂ
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Security and defense, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Carol I National Defence University Publishing House
Keywords: Ukraine; war; OSINT; social networks;
Summary/Abstract: The War in Ukraine, which began in 2014, is an ongoing conflict. Since the commencement of hostilities, the new era of decentralized and technologically enabled intelligence has emerged. This new era is referred to as open-source intelligence (OSINT). The role of OSINT in shaping the global and domestic narratives surrounding the conflict has become increasingly prominent. Achieving dominance in this narrative domain is imperative for ensuring strategic and tactical success, both on the battlefield and in the broader geopolitical landscape. The volume and velocity of OSINT have increased exponentially since February 24, 2022, the point at which the hostilities escalated under the leadership of the Russian Federation. This surge in information can be attributed to a confluence of factors, resulting in an ongoing information battle that shapes the various aspects of the conflict, including the political, military, economic, societal, informational, infrastructural, physical, environmental, and temporal elements (PMESSI-PT). Shaping global, and in particular allied, perceptions of all the variables within the PMESSI-PT model is critical for sustaining and building support. The present article will examine how Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian aggression, which have recently seen a dramatic increase in OSINT, have both facilitated and hindered these efforts.

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