An open-source investigation (OSINT) uses intelligence gathering techniques and technologies, including satellite imagery, social media posts and user-generated content to  tap into vast amounts of publicly available online information, including in criminal investigation.

Open-source techniques involve researching, selecting, archiving and analysing information from publicly available sources. The mechanism can include analysing an Internet Protocol (IP) address, to searching public governmental records.

EUPOL COPPS organised a three-day OSINT training for 15 members of the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC, dealing with corruption investigation and witness protection, on 01 October in Ramallah.

Hapet Halici is the Mission’s Dutch Cyber Crime Adviser who delivered the training as part of EU efforts to enhance the criminal justice and policing in Palestine.

During the training, the participants familiarised themselves with topics such as storage of information online, using search engines effectively, making reports during OSINF, how to use Streetview, with practical exercises and reverse images analysis.

“This training is at the core of our work,” said Neveen Kuhail, from PACC Investigation Department. “It provided us with some tips that help unveil simple and mysterious cases,” she added.

“The learning process of how to use open-source tools is constantly evolving, very  relevant as it provides core elements and tools in conducting open-source investigations and also case studies to analyse the fundamentals of online search and research techniques for investigations,” said Mr. Halici.

This training is part of the mission capacity building support to the Anti-Corruption Commission, as a follow up to the Basic training that was delivered by the mission to the PACC on the 29th of April this year.