Inside the IC Former officials debate OSINT in the IC
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Jul 8, 2025 
In this discussion, guests David Gauthier, Ellen McCarthy, Chip Usher, and Eliot Jardines—experts in open-source intelligence (OSINT)—examine the complexities of integrating OSINT into the intelligence community. Gauthier advocates for a dedicated open-source agency to enhance decision-making. McCarthy shares insights on evolving OSINT practices and the importance of trained analysts. Usher highlights real-world examples showcasing OSINT's value, while Jardines discusses the need for professional standards. The panel debates operational challenges and the future of OSINT in a digitized intelligence landscape.
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PAI Is Not The Same As OSINT
- OSINT is distinct from raw publicly available information and requires tradecraft and processing to become intelligence.
- Eliot Jardines stresses PAI is an ingredient, while OSINT is the finished analytic product.
Prevent Untrained OSINT Collection
- Do not let untrained all-source analysts conduct unsupervised open-source collection because it risks compromising tradecraft and operations.
- Provide them validated OSINT products at their desktop instead of encouraging independent, risky collection.
Centralize OSINT To Scale Investment
- Invest in a dedicated OSINT organization to centralize resources, tools, and expertise and address the scale of open-source data.
- Chip Usher suggests that a new agency would attract focused investment and vendor engagement.