How Open-Source Information Is Changing Intelligence

The global intelligence community is rapidly changing as new technology allows ordinary citizens to collect and analyze open-source intelligence. Despite the good that has already come from evidence compiled by nonstate actors, open-source intelligence comes with some risks. Mitigating those risks will require action from both open-source intelligence NGOs and government agencies.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the advantages of open-source intelligence?
2. What are the risks of open-source intelligence?

Additional resources:

• Read “Crowdsourcing and the Mobs,” by Amy Zegart. Available here.
• Read about Amy Zegart’s new book, Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence, here.
• Watch “Why Cyber Is Different,” with Amy Zegart, via PolicyEd. Available here.