Some weeks back Dave asked a good question, and I've given some time to think on it. What I've arrived at is exploring how info is used, how I use it, and why context matters.
Spoiler: I'm not publishing a list. *You* need to define that.
#OSINT
#ContextMatters
1/19
Spoiler: I'm not publishing a list. *You* need to define that.
#OSINT
#ContextMatters
1/19
https://twitter.com/DaveG437/status/1592907458405863424
First, it's important to ask the question "Why are we here?"
I suppose the answer comes in many forms: political leanings and motivations, military & conflict analysis, offering moral support, news updates, and an intrigue in events beyond one's borders.
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I suppose the answer comes in many forms: political leanings and motivations, military & conflict analysis, offering moral support, news updates, and an intrigue in events beyond one's borders.
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For any answer, what does that tell us about what information we seek, what it means, and where it comes from?
It would be foolish to assume everyone is out for the #facts. This flies in the face of personal & collective biases, and dampens the emotions that come with them.
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It would be foolish to assume everyone is out for the #facts. This flies in the face of personal & collective biases, and dampens the emotions that come with them.
3/
Regardless of sentiment, what really matters is how information is framed, crafted, and distributed (i.e. what to 'look for').
IMO objectivity is not a given—it is a skill, honed over time, and requires consistent self-evaluation, course-correcting, and empathy.
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IMO objectivity is not a given—it is a skill, honed over time, and requires consistent self-evaluation, course-correcting, and empathy.
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https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1550882456806498307
It is remarkably easy to assert what others want to hear. It's low-effort and feeds on prevailing biases that are themselves self-reinforcing.
It's haphazard judgement, requires speculation, misdirection, or arrogance to maintain a narrative, and is often unfounded.
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It's haphazard judgement, requires speculation, misdirection, or arrogance to maintain a narrative, and is often unfounded.
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On the contrary, it is not easy to craft a story about what may be happening, and that details are messy, murky, and intertwined.
It may take many stories and deep research to result in a clear picture, but it demonstrates great judgment and intentionality.
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It may take many stories and deep research to result in a clear picture, but it demonstrates great judgment and intentionality.
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The level of ⚡️ information⚡️ made available matters too. Rapid generation of claims (which this platform excels at amplifying) too often is given credence as "the whole picture."
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Claims are *always* only kernels of information. They require context, and if the authors don't do that themselves, then it means they aren't there for that purpose (not always bad), or don't care (deceitful & likely misinformation).
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https://twitter.com/osint_east/status/1594824970005368833
After nine months of war monitoring I've curated a source list (for myself) providing for how to understand what is happening through knowledge and context-building, and using the different approaches above. Combined, they enable information synthesis.
I encourage this.
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I encourage this.
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Across platforms I observe a few hundred accounts (~90 on telegram), usually sifting through days or weeks of posts.
Producing good intel on breaking events isn't an objective; other accounts do that really well, and are timely.
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Producing good intel on breaking events isn't an objective; other accounts do that really well, and are timely.
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Rather, I seek themes, trends, and stories. I'll look for changes in tone, and cross-reference posts or articles going months back.
More than what is being said, how are sources *thinking* and how is information evolving?
And what does it say about what lies ahead?
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More than what is being said, how are sources *thinking* and how is information evolving?
And what does it say about what lies ahead?
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https://twitter.com/LanguageIearner/status/1592358304084242432
From this experience I can offer one this: in seeking good info, review a contributor's history.
→ Do they make an effort to elaborate when needed?
→ How are sources cited, if at all?
→ Do they make corrections, and are corrections timely?
→ Is there collaboration?
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→ Do they make an effort to elaborate when needed?
→ How are sources cited, if at all?
→ Do they make corrections, and are corrections timely?
→ Is there collaboration?
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This brings me to another question: is this OSINT, and do I do it?
It believe it is, and that I do.
Does an (osint) handle make it the case? No, it doesn't, and @SecretNofun should be thrilled to hear this (also I'm not 13 and retweeting blindly, sorry to disappoint).
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It believe it is, and that I do.
Does an (osint) handle make it the case? No, it doesn't, and @SecretNofun should be thrilled to hear this (also I'm not 13 and retweeting blindly, sorry to disappoint).
13/
There's (obviously) additional context implied in this statement since open-source intelligence necessitates synthesis for actionability.
So I will offer that, providing context for who I am, and in doing so answer the question of why *I am here:
👀👀👀
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So I will offer that, providing context for who I am, and in doing so answer the question of why *I am here:
👀👀👀
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My background evolved through landscape architecture, as an ecologist, and now in data economics.
I am trained to think spatially, assessing aspects of time, space and form (i.e. reality) & through systems-to-details observation, and in developing concrete implications.
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I am trained to think spatially, assessing aspects of time, space and form (i.e. reality) & through systems-to-details observation, and in developing concrete implications.
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I have no military background. I am, however, a voracious reader; if an article on force design catches interest I will churn through it and a dozen others.
This (at least) offers a partial picture of my reason for being here, and how I craft and present information.
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This (at least) offers a partial picture of my reason for being here, and how I craft and present information.
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I made the point early on that I'm not interested in a following, and this remains true.
However, I am aware it comes with the platform, and with a larger the following so comes the likelihood of amplification.
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However, I am aware it comes with the platform, and with a larger the following so comes the likelihood of amplification.
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https://twitter.com/osint_east/status/1576997777082814464
So I'll offer this:
The more follows, the more seriously I take this—even if this means posts slow to a crawl.
I am intent on getting info correct myself, and *magnetizing* others to those who put the work in to produce *trustworthy* info. This is the long game.
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The more follows, the more seriously I take this—even if this means posts slow to a crawl.
I am intent on getting info correct myself, and *magnetizing* others to those who put the work in to produce *trustworthy* info. This is the long game.
18/
Your end of the deal?
Point out when and how I get things wrong, and I will correct them. Period.
So @DaveG437 I didn't necessarily answer your question, but hope I've laid out a way forward for thinking about what information matters, how to find it, and why.
19/19
Point out when and how I get things wrong, and I will correct them. Period.
So @DaveG437 I didn't necessarily answer your question, but hope I've laid out a way forward for thinking about what information matters, how to find it, and why.
19/19
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