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- What is white intelligence (OSINT)?
What is white intelligence (OSINT)?
White intelligence, or OSINT (Open Source Intelligence), is a fundamental technique used by private investigators. In simple terms, it involves gathering information on individuals and companies from publicly accessible sources, such as public records, databases, and the internet. Discover what exactly white intelligence entails, how it is conducted, and how detective agencies use it to resolve various cases.
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White Intelligence - What is OSINT?
The term “intelligence” can have many meanings, but in the context of detective work, it refers to methods of gathering information that is not widely known, often about individuals or business entities. These methods can be categorized into types like black intelligence and white intelligence.
Black intelligence involves collecting data through illegal means, such as wiretapping, document theft, searching personal belongings without permission, or hacking into online accounts. Such activities can result in imprisonment, so no reputable detective would use these tactics. Only intelligence agencies within military and police structures have the authority to use such methods, and even then, only to a limited extent.
As the opposite of black intelligence, white intelligence—known in English as OSINT (Open Source Intelligence)—focuses on gathering data exclusively from legal, publicly accessible sources. This approach relies on information from openly available resources, ensuring that all data collection is lawful and permitted.
Key Sources of Information in White Intelligence
The primary sources of information in white intelligence include:
- Publicly available registers – such as the court register of companies (KRS), Central Register and Information on Economic Activity, Central Information of Land and Mortgage Registers, Central Register of Vehicles, and BIG debtor registers.
- State archives
- Traditional media – newspapers, television, and radio.
- Publications – such as financial analyses and company reports.
- Internet – including social media, forums, online articles, blogs, company websites, industry directories, photos, maps, and more.
Today, the most crucial source of information is undoubtedly the internet, offering the quickest access to a vast amount of data. Through cyberspace, users can access most public registers (both national and international), search various media publications, and acquire informal information shared by individuals on platforms like social media.
Who Uses White Intelligence?
White intelligence is widely utilized by various entities and institutions. Those who benefit from this technique include:
- Detective agencies
- Law enforcement and intelligence officers – open sources of information assist in apprehending criminals and proving their illicit activities.
- Bank analysts – for instance, to verify a customer applying for a loan.
- Insurers – for validating compensation claims.
- Recruiters – to gather and verify information on employees,
- Bailiffs and debt collectors – for example, to search for a debtor’s assets,
- Journalists, academics, analysts – for creating various materials and publications.
White Intelligence in Detective Work
In our blog posts, we’ve emphasized that private detectives cannot use many techniques exclusive to law enforcement. Therefore, their primary tools include observation and, notably, white intelligence (OSINT).
Detective agencies apply OSINT in almost every case, but it’s especially useful in the following tasks:
- Business intelligence – verifying a company’s financial standing, first through open-source analysis, such as reviewing annual reports published in court bulletins or debtor registries.
- Locating individuals – such as missing relatives, heirs, or debtors. Social media, online forums, and various registers help detectives track these individuals.
- Asset tracing – OSINT enables the detection of capital connections between companies or the identification of hidden assets of debtors or maintenance evaders.
- Divorce cases – OSINT is extremely helpful in uncovering evidence of a spouse’s infidelity.
Only a Skilled Detective Can Conduct Effective White Intelligence!
KOB GROUP 
