Editing Open-source intelligence (section)

==Definition==
OSINT, broadly defined, involves gathering and analyzing publicly accessible information to produce actionable insights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence?) {{!}} SANS Institute |url=https://www.sans.org/blog/what-is-open-source-intelligence/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=[[SANS Institute]]}}</ref>

The [[United States Department of Homeland Security|U.S. Department of Homeland Security]] defines OSINT as intelligence derived from publicly available information, collected and disseminated promptly to address specific intelligence needs.<ref>''[https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/Ethical%20Frameworks%20in%20OSINT%20Final.pdf Ethical Frameworks in Open Source Intelligence]''. (Report) (2022). Part of the 2022 Public Private Partnership Analytic Exchange Program. Washington, DC: [[United States Department of Homeland Security|US Department of Homeland Security]].</ref>

[[NATO]] describes OSINT as intelligence obtained from publicly available information and other unclassified data with limited public distribution or access.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/NATOOSINTHandbookV1.2/mode/2up |title=NATO OSINT Handbook V 1.2 |date=2001-11-01 |publisher=[[NATO]]}}</ref>

The [[European Union]] defines OSINT as the collecting and analyzing information from open sources to generate actionable intelligence, supporting areas like national security, law enforcement, and business intelligence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-02 |title=OSINT: Open-source intelligence |url=https://data.europa.eu/en/publications/datastories/what-osint-open-source-intelligence |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=[[European Union]] Data}}</ref>

The [[United Nations]] has also recognized OSINT’s potential, noting its value in monitoring member states’ compliance with international regulations across various sectors, including public health and human rights.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bochert |first=Florian |date=2021-11-19 |title=OSINT – The Untapped Treasure Trove of United Nations Organizations |url=https://hir.harvard.edu/osint-the-untapped-treasure-trove-of-united-nations-organizations/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=[[Harvard International Review]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[private sector]], companies like [[IBM]] define OSINT as the process of gathering and analyzing publicly available information to assess threats, inform decisions, or answer specific questions. Similarly, cybersecurity firms such as [[CrowdStrike]] describe OSINT as the act of collecting and analyzing publicly available data for intelligence purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Kurt |date=2025-01-17 |title=What is OSINT Open Source Intelligence? {{!}} CrowdStrike |url=https://www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/cybersecurity-101/threat-intelligence/open-source-intelligence-osint/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=[[Crowdstrike]] |language=en-US}}</ref>