PROSINT: Redefining Open-Source Intelligence in a Complex Threat Landscape
In an era marked by unprecedented cyber and hybrid threats, open-source intelligence (OSINT) has emerged as a crucial tool for both public and private sector security. However, the term OSINT is often defined inconsistently across various industries, governments, and professional circles, leading to confusion and operational challenges. To address this ambiguity, I propose the adoption of a new term: PROSINT. This term refers to open-source intelligence that is professionally derived from publicly available information (PAI) and commercially available information (CAI) for legally recognized uses that are protected from disclosure, whether proprietary to any party or classified as a government secret.
The Problem: Diverging Definitions of OSINT
The broad application of OSINT has resulted in multiple interpretations, creating operational challenges and confusion regarding legal frameworks and common usage. For some, OSINT simply encompasses information that is publicly accessible—ranging from social media and news outlets to open platforms. Conversely, within the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), OSINT is often associated with highly regulated, specialized intelligence activities. This divergence in definitions has led to communication gaps between governments, private firms, and other organizations, resulting in misalignment in security operations that must adhere to varying privacy laws and evidentiary standards.
Introducing the term PROSINT can help clarify this ambiguity by establishing a framework that emphasizes professionalism, legal protections, and ethical considerations.
PROSINT: A Clearer Framework for Professionalism
The time has come to refine our understanding of what constitutes professional, ethically sound OSINT. PROSINT offers a more precise definition, focusing on client-specific intelligence that is legally protected, whether for proprietary commercial interests or classified government use. Unlike general OSINT practices, PROSINT ensures compliance with ethical guidelines and provides actionable, high-value intelligence for risk management, decision-making, and national security efforts.
Often referred to as the “intelligence of first resort,” OSINT serves as the starting point for more robust intelligence operations. In today’s digital landscape, professionals leverage advanced tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to collect and analyze data from diverse sources, including the deep web and social media platforms such as Telegram and Discord. These technologies enable real-time tracking of cybercriminal networks, ransomware operations, and nation-state actors.
However, not all OSINT is created equal. The need for a term like PROSINT arises from the demand for intelligence that is not only collected but also contextualized, analyzed, and validated by professionals in compliance with privacy and international legal frameworks. This distinction is particularly important as open-source data becomes increasingly integrated into global cybersecurity, corporate risk management, and geopolitical decision-making.
Recent global events have underscored the growing importance of OSINT. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, for instance, demonstrated how OSINT can provide real-time insights into geopolitical conflicts. Beyond Europe, OSINT plays a vital role in assessing developments in the Middle East, potential challenges to stability in the Pacific, and even global technological or climate issues. Governments, private enterprises, and media organizations all rely heavily on OSINT to navigate these complexities, highlighting the need for more structured, professional approaches to intelligence.
In response to these evolving dynamics, the U.S. government updated its official OSINT guidelines to include Commercially Available Information (CAI), recognizing the expanding role of this type of data alongside the previously understood realm of Publicly Available Information (PAI). In March 2024, CIA Director Bill Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines co-signed the U.S. Open-Source Intelligence Strategy for 2024-2026, marking a significant shift in how the Intelligence Community approaches OSINT to encompass both CAI and PAI.
Building a Global PROSINT Ecosystem: Enhancing Public-Private Collaboration
To foster a global, professional OSINT ecosystem, it is essential to encourage collaboration between allied governments, private industries, and academia. Public-private partnerships are crucial for advancing tradecraft, developing best practices, and sharing intelligence securely. NATO’s recent emphasis on addressing hybrid threats illustrates the growing importance of OSINT in mitigating risks posed by nation-states like Russia and China, as well as non-state actors and cybercriminal organizations.
The professionalization of OSINT is vital for maintaining trust in intelligence activities. Governments rely on PROSINT to safeguard national interests and protect citizens’ privacy, while corporations utilize it to defend intellectual property and shield themselves from cyber threats. Similarly, universities and research institutions must secure their innovations against espionage and cybercrime.
Addressing today’s hybrid threat landscape, which encompasses a range of actors from hostile state services to criminal groups, necessitates a clear distinction between general OSINT and ethical PROSINT. By establishing a more nuanced, professional framework for intelligence collection and analysis, we can ensure that security efforts meet the highest standards of legality, ethics, and effectiveness.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
Differentiating PROSINT from OSINT for policymakers at all levels of government could provide a foundation for transparent policy discussions that build trust between governments, private enterprises, and the public they serve. As we confront increasingly complex global threats in a volatile world, it is essential to adopt PROSINT principles that unite intelligence professionals under shared values of human rights, democratic principles, and ethical business practices.
In summary, the introduction of PROSINT as a distinct term can help clarify the role of professional open-source intelligence in today’s security landscape. By emphasizing professionalism, legal protections, and ethical considerations, we can enhance the effectiveness of intelligence operations and better navigate the challenges posed by a rapidly evolving threat environment.