The Challenge and Value of Social Media Intelligence

Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) is an open source intelligence (OSINT) focused on collecting and analyzing data from social media platforms. This information can be in the form of profile information, interactions with other users, or metadata that adds context to shared content.

Social media intelligence is used by governments and non-state actors for a variety of investigations. Investigators must ensure that they adhere to laws, policies, regulations, and best practices that respect user privacy and human rights.

Social media intelligence is often associated with the investigation of groups or individuals involved in criminal activity, including but not limited to:

Terrorism, Organized Crime, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation, Disaster Prediction and Response, Population Density, Economic Analysis, Cybercrime, Health and Disease Surveillance, Substance Use and Trends.

Not only that, but private companies and organizations also use social media intelligence to gather information to better inform business decisions, improve marketing, ensure brand protection, and identify patterns and trends.

The Challenge of Social Media Intelligence

Although a wealth of information is available through social media platforms, this does not mean that social media intelligence is easy or simple to use. Investigators using it face several challenges.

1. Number of users

Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have billions of monthly users. With the vast amount of data available, it can be difficult to find information relevant to a particular investigation.

2. User identification

Many platforms operate to keep the identities of their users private, presenting a challenge for investigators. Additionally, fake accounts and bots on these platforms are increasingly common, making it difficult to determine which data is accurate, usable, and useful.

3. Compromise trust

Over the past few years, there have been numerous stories of data breaches and user information being compromised, which can cause users to think twice before sharing information online. In addition, as governments continue to employ social media intelligence techniques, they may infringe on the privacy of citizens, creating an unstable relationship between authorities and the people they serve and protect.

The Intelligence Value of Social Networking

1. Social networking is rich in information material

The data in most social networking sites penetrates into all aspects of life, such as politics, economy, technology, culture, etc., with a large number and variety, including pictures, text, and videos, rich in content, and contains a large amount of usable information. These intelligence materials have become topics of discussion among social network users, with a great variety and quantity.

2. Make the collection of open source intelligence more risk-free and efficient

Network social monitoring has changed the previous market research technology and dangerous intelligence gathering methods such as undercover agents and informants. Intelligence personnel only need to monitor social network, query and retrieve data information of various social users through special tools and platforms (such as Knowlesys Intelligence System). It can avoid tedious market research, stay away from dangerous environments, and reduce costly technical methods such as drone detection and satellite detection.

There is no need to use risky human intelligence methods when open source intelligence can solve problems. It not only saves the cost of intelligence acquisition, but also provides a powerful supplement for human intelligence. Intelligence personnel can devote more energy to intelligence analysis and improve the efficiency of intelligence work.

3. Make open source intelligence more real-time

With the increasingly powerful functions of social networks, the speed of diffusion, frequency of updates, and scope of dissemination of online social platforms have undergone tremendous changes compared with traditional information media. Some mainstream online social platforms have become the main channels of communication for hot events. Those who experienced many events on the scene like to share what they saw and heard on the social network platform for the first time, and express their views and opinions, and the dissemination of various news has reached a real-time level. Especially in emergencies, social networks usually become the first source of information.