The General Theory for Open Source Intelligence in brief (A proposal)

https://www.intellisfera.it/site/

With the proposal of a “General Theory” for Open Source Intelligence (GT/OSINT) we attempt to formulate an innovative process for the creation of a theoretical framework for Open Source Intelligence (and intelligence in a broader sense). This objective can only be achieved through the implementation of a concrete interdisciplinary approach.

The present theoretical framework of OSINT lacks in definitions of essential concepts that are the basis for the whole discipline, for example data, information, source, knowledge, fact and so on. Most of these concepts have already been defined and are currently being used by other much more formalized and established disciplines.

The current need for a relatively young OSINT discipline is then to facilitate efficient boundary-crossing and practice-borrowing between disciplines such as philosophy, philosophy of information, historiography, library sciences, information sciences, media studies etc..

The General Theory for Open Source Intelligence aims to supply the required conceptual interfaces between OSINT, Intelligence Studies and many other disciplines that can contribute to the strengthening of the OSINT theoretical framework.

An explanation of the General Theory for Open Source Intelligence (GT/OSINT) is provided by the so-called “layer trilogy” published, in Italian, by Edizioni Epoké from 2014 to 2020. This trilogy includes Open Source Intelligence Abstraction Layer (2014), Open Source Intelligence Application Layer (2017) and Open Source Intelligence Fusion Layer (2020).

The trilogy is completed by the Microglossario Interdisciplinare per l’Intelligence delle Fonti Aperte (2019), a cross-disciplinary glossary explaining the tailored lexicon and specialistic jargon utilized within the OSINT field.

The proposal

The GT/OSINT starts with a number of significant observations:

1. OSINT must be considered as a real discipline, as opposed to a mere technique or instrument entirely ancillary to the so-called “Intelligence of secrets” (classified intelligence);

2. OSINT concerns intelligence activities and processes conducted exploiting information that is fully and freely available (= that can be retrieved) and accessible (= that can be understood);

3. All sources and information originally arise open, i.e. fully and freely available and accessible;

4. Only later they [sources and information] may undergo an external classification device (operated by third party entities) that permanently change the original status of the properties of availability and accessibility;

5. The ontological (and chronological) superiority of “open” source (and information), implies that OSINT must be placed at the highest level of the Intelligence Studies theoretical architecture.

Starting from these observations we can argue that:

1. Open Source Intelligence has a double nature: a) OSINT as intelligence gathered from open sources and b) OSINT as intelligence about (open) sources;
2. With reference to the GT/OSINT, OSINT is much more akin to source intelligence than information intelligence;
3. In the GT/OSINT — and with reference to the General Definition of Information (GDI) — the source is a special type of information; namely a “source” is an information where metadata, operational data and derivative data are most significant than primary and secondary data (i.e. source is information where the payload contains less “raw data” and more structured references to other information or sources).
4. In the GT/OSINT, the “openness” of a source means that that entity that possesses the information has a positive aptitude to communication, diffusion and free exchange of the semantic contents owned (free of charge or upon payment). To own this aptitude requires that the internal architecture of a source is composed of at least three subsystems: the mnestic subsystem, the narrative subsystem, the social (or relational) subsystem.
5. The GT/OSINT place the OSINT discipline as ontologically superordinate to all the other forms of classified intelligence. Indeed, the OSINT environment is made up by two sets. The first set is constituted by all the sources and information that exist and that are potentially available (regardless of their ranking of relevance). The second set is made up by the sources or information that we already own and that are certain, enumerable and available to ourselves, even if they undergo a classification device;
6. As a consequence of point 5, GT/OSINT pinpoints two main concepts of availability: the first concerns the so-called “universal availability” (sources and information that are indirectly and potentially available to everybody); the second concept concerns the so-called “specific availability” (sources and information that are directly and actually available to us).

Available on Amazon

With regards to the architecture of the “trilogy”, we can summarize the work as following.

In Open Source Intelligence Abstraction Layer (Edizioni Epoké, 2014) we argue that:

1. OSINT is the superordinate layer in intelligence studies, both as a constitutive and “observer” element of the intelligence system;
2. The field of Intelligence Studies lacks in precise definitions of fundamental concepts such as “data”, “information”, “source” etc, on which intelligence discipline is founded on;
3. Due to the ontological superiority of “open” source (and information) as compared on “classified” source, the discipline that studies “open” source must necessary be ontologically superior of the one who studies “classified” source/information;
4. Thus, OSINT must be considered as an autonomous discipline with independent — but not isolated — theoretical framework, methods, disciplinary language and lexicon.

In Open Source Intelligence Application Layer (Edizioni Epoké, 2017) we deliver a sort of interdisciplinary framework to achieve the goals elucidated in the “Abstraction Layer”. Such a framework is based on the following characteristics:

• the integration of disciplinary borrowings and disciplinary boundary-crossing activities;
• the development of multi-disciplinary language interfaces (as glossaries, lexicons, and so on…);
• the development of a heuristic and hermeneutical methodology in source discovery;
• the ontological validation of sources and source performance assessment, which is typically included in the so-called “source’s doctrine”.

In the Application Layer we also conceptualise the idea of “unaffected source” and push for an ethical insight of sources and a conservationist approach to the source’s environment, (or “infosphere”, as defined in Luciano Floridi’s “Philosophy of Information”) by which we mean to preserve the originary nature and features of the source from contamination and classification. So — as inforgs — “open” and “unaffected” sources must be protected and not corrupted while evaluating or accessing them.

Finally, in the Open Source Intelligence Fusion Layer (2020) we will face the problem of the knowledge transformation from “tacit” to “explicit”, and how GT/OSINT can facilitate those process, by managing source narration and overseeing the “registration” process, due to the Maurizio Ferrari’s “Theory of Documentality”.

Additionally, the Microglossario Interdisciplinare per l’Intelligence delle Fonti Aperte (Edizioni Epoké, 2019) — Interdisciplinary Lexicon for the General Theory of Open Source Intelligence — provides a sort of overall linguistic, interdisciplinary interface between GT/OSINT Intelligence Studies and many other relevant disciplines.

Bibliography

Amoretti, M.C. e Vassallo, N., Piccolo trattato di epistemologia, Torino, Codice (2010)

Ferraris, M., Documentalità. Perché è necessario lasciare tracce, Laterza (2010)

Floridi, L., The Philosophy of Information, Oxford University Press (2011)

Floridi, L., Information. A very short introduction, Oxford University Press (2010)

Nacci, G., Open Source Intelligence Abstraction Layer, Edizioni Epoké (2014)

Nacci, G., Vietato lasciare le fonti aperte, Edizioni Epoké (2015)

Nacci, G., Open Source Intelligence Application Layer, Edizioni Epoké (2017)

Nacci. G, Appunti sulla architettura sistemica delle fonti in OSINT. Cosa fa di un oggetto una fonte (aperta)? Dottrina delle fonti in OSINT (working paper, 2017 — link)

Nacci. G, Appunti per un Accesso Etico alle Fonti Originarie in OSINT — verso una dottrina delle fonti in OSINT: fonti “unaffected” e loro salvaguardia (working paper, 2017 — link)

Nacci, G., Microglossario Interdisciplinare per l’Intelligence delle Fonti Aperte, Edizioni Epoké (2019)

Nacci, G., Open Source Intelligence Fusion Layer (in progress, 2019–2020)

Nonaka I., Takeuchi H., The Knowledge Creating Company, University Press, Oxford (1995)

Web sources

Floridi, Luciano, “Semantic Conceptions of Information”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2019 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = < https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2019/entries/information-semantic/>.

Author

Giovanni Nacci ( www.giovanninacci.net) is a former Italian Navy Officer. He started his career at 5° Reparto “Cooperazione Internazionale e Infrastrutture NATO” at the “Ufficio Centrale del Bilancio e Affari Finanziari” (BILANDIFE) of the Italian Minister of Defence. He is an author and consultant in theories, methods and systems for the strategic treatment of information and specialist in Open Source Intelligence applications since 1998. He is the founder of Intelli|sfèra ( www.intellisfera.it) whose aim is the interdisciplinary innovation in the Open Source Intelligence.

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.