Vetting Publicly Available Information (How To Know Whats True)

Introduction

Publicly available information may contain a great deal of misinformation. One challenge in open-source intelligence (OSINT) is vetting publicly available information to determine what is true vs. false. The question is: how does one vet information? In an age of information overload, knowing what is true and what is not can be challenging. With the rise of the internet, anyone can publish anything they want without going through the traditional channels of peer review and editorial oversight. As a result, it is more important than ever to be able to vet publicly available information. When it comes to OSINT, there are a few key things to keep in mind. To ensure decision makers have the best information possible, one must vet the information appropriately by considering the source, the evidence, and the motives of the information's publisher.

Consider the Source

In recent years, the amount of misinformation circulating online has grown exponentially (Lahby et al., 2022). With the rise of social media, it has become easier than ever for false information to spread quickly and easily. As a result, it can be difficult to know what to believe. When trying to determine the accuracy of a piece of information, it is important to consider its source. If it is coming from a reputable news organization or government website, it is more likely to be accurate than if it is coming from an anonymous blog or social media post. In short, one should conduct background checks on all intelligence before accepting it as truth. With so much false information circulating, this is more important than ever (Appel, 2014). However, sometimes one has to do more than accepting information from even reputable sources, because even reputable sources can traffic in fake news (Ibrishimova & Li, 2019). Considering the source is not just about checking off boxes but more about understanding what different sources may be trying to communicate based on self-interest.

For that reason, it is important to remember that all sources of information may have a bias or perspective that they serve in disseminating information (Ibrishimova & Li, 2019). This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something to be aware of when consuming news and information. Bias can come from a variety of sources, including the media outlet itself, the writer or reporter, and even the sources that are used in the piece (Ibrishimova & Li, 2019). When reading or watching the news, it is important to be aware of these potential biases so that you can make an informed decision about what to believe. Additionally, it is often helpful to seek out multiple sources of information on any given topic in order to get a well-rounded view. By being aware of the potential for bias in all sources of information, you can be a more informed and critical consumer of news and information.

Look for Corroborating Evidence

One question to ask is this: How does the information compare to everything else that is found (McKeown et al., 2014)? This question can help to identify potentially significant pieces of information, as well as to rule out irrelevant data. By carefully considering all of the evidence, investigators can ensure that they are making the best use of available resources and information. If multiple sources are saying the same thing, that is a good sign that it...…refers to the accuracy of the information, and it is important to consider whether the source has a history of publishing accurate information. Reliability refers to the consistency of the information, and it is important to consider whether the source has a track record of publishing consistent information. Credibility refers to the believability of the information, and it is important to consider whether the source has any biases or ulterior motives. By considering these factors, it is possible to get a better sense of the merits of a source and prevent being misled.

Conclusion

By being mindful of several factors in OSINT work, one can help ensure that information is being vetted appropriately and effectively. Establishing provenance, veracity, reliability, and credibility are all essential to this workas is the ability to obtain corroborating evidence. Provenance refers to the history of the information, including who collected it and how it was collected. This is important in order to determine whether the information is reliable and whether it has been tampered with. Veracity refers to the truthfulness of the information, while credibility refers to its trustworthiness. Considering the motive that various sources might have in publishing information is another option an investigator has in this field. Motives can range from self-interest to honest reporting, but they always have to be evaluated in each case, because information travels swiftly and can be spread recklessly without thoughteven by credible and trustworthy sources at times. Thus, every bit of evidence should be corroborated insofar as is possible. That is why in order to establish qualities of veracity, it is often necessary to obtain supporting evidence from multiple sources. By taking these measures, OSINT practitioners can ensure that the information…