OSINT with ShadowDragon & Digital Tools For Modern Investigations

S04 E03 Part 2: Human Trafficking in Online Marketplaces (Part 2): Exposing the Threats & Tools to Fight BackIn this episode of the Shadow Dragon podcast, Director of National Security David Cook (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-n-cook/) hosts a conversation for National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The panel features: - Matt Richardson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwrichardson/), Senior Advisor of Intelligence and Child Safety at the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (https://followmoneyfightslavery.org/) (ATII) and Head of Intelligence at the Canadian OSINT Center (https://theosintcentre.ca/) - Daniel Clemens (https://www.linkedin.com/in/clemensdaniel/), CEO and Founder of Shadow Dragon - Elliot Anderson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lemmingrush/), CTO of Shadow Dragon This episode explores how open-source intelligence (OSINT) methods can unveil hidden threads of human trafficking by tracing repeated text, phone numbers, and images in online ads. Experts from both ShadowDragon and the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) emphasize that ethical, transparent data collection is vital for legal admissibility. They also stress the significance of parental involvement—through open dialogue, clear device-use boundaries, and vigilance for red flags like unsolicited gifts or secrecy—in thwarting exploitation before it begins. Central to prevention is the “stop, block, and talk” framework, which empowers children to discontinue unsafe interactions, block perpetrators, and immediately seek help from a trusted adult. Ultimately, the episode underscores that deploying cutting-edge OSINT tools, coupled with engaged parenting and community collaboration, remains key to addressing the global crisis of human trafficking. Key Takeaways OSINT in Trafficking Investigations: Repeated text, phone numbers, and images in online ads can offer critical leads on trafficking networks. Ethical Data Collection: Transparent, legally compliant methods ensure that gathered evidence is admissible in court. Parenting & Prevention: Open communication, device-use boundaries, and awareness of red flags (like secretive behavior) are essential for child safety. “Stop, Block, and Talk”: A straightforward guideline that urges children to halt disturbing interactions, block the user, and seek adult assistance. Community Collaboration: Harnessing advanced OSINT tools alongside active parental and broader community engagement is crucial in the fight against human trafficking. Request to view ShadowDragon and CACI's DarkBlue Intelligence Suite Webinar on using OSINT to find indicators of human trafficking online: https://share.hsforms.com/1dcl3pCneSpOAeQpkQFI66g53lw0 Special Guest: Matt Richardson.

33min

S04 E05: Melisa Stivaletti, the Queen of OSINT, on Elevating OSINT with AI, Private-Public Synergy, and MoreGuest introduction & background Melisa describes how the 2010–11 Arab Spring revealed the power of social-media data while she was a Department of the Army civilian in Afghanistan. Since then she has worked across academia, federal agencies, and the private sector to professionalize open-source intelligence, currently serving as OSINT Director at Guidehouse and chair of AFCEA’s Emerging Professionals in the Intelligence Community (EPIC) committee. Why OSINT matters now Every modern investigation—military, law-enforcement, or corporate—relies on publicly available information (PAI); skipping it “short-changes” the mission. Recent unclassified U.S. DoD, ODNI, and Army OSINT strategies publicly signal a whole-of-government commitment and an invitation for industry partnership. Congress has underscored this shift with the first House Subcommittee dedicated to open-source intelligence. Public-private synergy & funding gaps Dual-use commercial tools and venture-backed research and development give the U.S. an edge, but the Intelligence Community still allocates less than 1% of its budget to OSINT despite the discipline providing roughly 30% of material in the President’s Daily Brief. Cloud storage, advanced data sets, and continuous tool development make OSINT “cheap relative to satellites” but far from free; chronic underfunding risks hollowing out capabilities. Generative AI opportunities & cautions Large language models accelerate sense-making (summarization, triage, translation) amid an ever-expanding data ocean. Analysts must demand rigorous sourcing and bias evaluation—“every AI-generated sentence needs a footnote”—and should favor secure, controlled models over public chatbots. The real value lies in “a collector who knows how to use AI,” not in AI replacing human tradecraft. Operational vs. strategic OSINT Tactical users (SOF, JSOC) need rapid, geotagged, mission-ready insights; strategic analysts focus on long-term trends, indications & warnings, and partner sharing. Both require advanced skills—data science, cyber forensics, provenance verification—not just “having an internet connection.” Professionalization & future skills Formal tradecraft standards, dedicated career paths, and prompt-engineering expertise are emerging to match HUMINT, SIGINT, and GEOINT. Melisa urges the next generation of intel professionals to embrace OSINT’s complexity, continuous learning curve, and growing strategic impact. Persistent misconceptions debunked Myth #1: OSINT is “free.” Reality: tooling, storage, and talent are expensive and scaling. Myth #2: OSINT is inferior to classified sources. Reality: it often provides the first, fastest, and sometimes only vantage point—and stands on equal analytic rigor. Special Guest: Melisa Stivaletti .

30min

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