The world of intelligence analysis has changed dramatically in the 21st Century. Where once only those with access to sensitive, compartmentalized information facilities could view space-generated photographs, now anyone with a computer can access them. Whereas before only specialists could achieve mastery of analysis of government claims, now laymen can access vast open-source data from endless social media sources. They can verify whether government reports are true, false, or erroneous.
Modern Bad Actors
We find that private, open-source researchers gain, quite literally, new forms of data to review daily. In every case, they get better at what they find. We find out who shot down the Dutch airliner over Ukraine. We find out that ships sailing the high seas are not reporting their proper locations, making it easier to hide illegal shipments of sanctioned oil. How do they do this? What is to be done if you want to protect your own secrets from such skilled researchers, now multiplying as once-sensitive data becomes more and more valuable?
Then there is the other side. What if the skills needed to communicate between adversaries have become remarkably easier? What can be done to limit their abilities? Sadly, much of our American capability to identify or defeat threats has been betrayed over the years. Edward Snowden skipped off to Russia after taking away vast information about the CIA’s capabilities in the technical realm. Likewise, we read about a recent Chinese theft of American know-how when their spies, working in our companies, are taken by the FBI before they can flee our country. Mercenary private citizens without foreign allegiance beyond our borders have found that selling classified data is always a way to overcome financial woes.
Worse still, what of those who seek camaraderie online? We read today that many young people don’t even seek human companionship. Instead, they find friendship in chat groups of AI’ friends.’ While that alone is bizarre, what makes matters even more problematic is that these lost souls are equally prey to online recruiters. In our country particularly, white extremists are definitely encouraging lonely people. What some are encouraged to do, we then read about. They will violently attack those they consider less human than they. Likewise, we find extremists of various stripes worldwide, wherever our factories, plants, and companies might be. They too find common cause with young people online. We find all extremists here, especially hyper nationalists, or militant fanatics of any sort.
Addressing Threat
What to do? One method is to attend classes on combating violent extremism online. Of course, the best method is to help in the development of formally trained, skilled researchers. Your company can offer training, jobs, and facilities where analysts can work for you, supplementing what the government offers. In fact, we tend to overlook the valuable skills offered overseas these days. For instance, Swansea University in the United Kingdom offers whole summer school courses for Ph.D. candidates, recently awarded scholars, and newly assigned researchers. All of these candidates would benefit from “This week-long course is designed to provide Ph.D. students and early career researchers with an expert-led curriculum on the role of the Internet in violent extremism and terrorism. The course will include a range of teaching and learning styles, including lectures, workshops, and small-group activities. It will cover a range of issues and topics, such as: how violent extremists use the Internet; exploitation of online platforms; how we respond to this threat; research methods and analysis; ethics; and gender perspectives.”
It is also helpful to familiarize ourselves with private companies that study such modern collection tactics. Bellingcat is a company that has made major contributions to identifying international incidents through open-source information. Its data is constantly updated through awareness of ever-expanding data fountains that come online constantly. Bellingcat has mastered the art of retrieving data from private cell phone postings. This type of data was used to expose who was behind a Russian artillery massacre, when it happened, and how it was covered up. All of this was achieved using information that was literally unknown until they tracked it down. We who protect classified programs must always stay ahead of our adversaries, lest they not only steal our information but also cause surprise on the battlefield. We learn then that it is too late to correct what was lost to our enemies, perhaps so much earlier.
