Open-source intelligence challenges state monopolies on information
Open-source intelligence challenges state monopolies on information - except, in some cases it doesn't. To take the example of Bellingcat/Higgins, their site definitely has a certain political orientation that usually tends to align with NATO interests, for example when it comes to Syria or various Russian operations. Several of their employees have backgrounds in intelligence/military (Kaszeta, Biggers), some of their funding comes from state-linked sources (Such as the NED[0]). I also recall reading some Bellingcat article where the information was not open source, relying on some leaked database of russian passports instead [1], which is fair enough as journalism, but not open source.<p>I'm not saying the conclusions of Bellingcat et al are necessarily wrong (though personally i take some of what they are writing with a grain of salt), but I would doubt that open source intelligence groups are necessarily that anti systemic or a challenge to state directed information flows and embargos. Finally, here is a fairly interesting article with a critical view of the Bellingcat group [2], though the source, Mintpress, is quite biased so critical reading is advised.<p>[0] <a href="https://www.bellingcat.com/about/" rel="nofollow">https://www.bellingcat.com/about/</a><p>[1] <a href="https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2018/10/09/full-report-skripal-poisoning-suspect-dr-alexander-mishkin-hero-russia/" rel="nofollow">https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2018/10/09/ful...</a><p>[2] <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26772184" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26772184</a>