Open Secret - The power of open-source intelligence

Gordon Farrer had an interesting introduction to open-source intelligence. As a career journalist and checker of facts, he believes whole-heartedly in producing content that is credible, truthful and backed by rigorous methodology. 

Luckily for Australia’s young journalistic minds, Gordon is also passionate about education, and teaches a subject on fact checking and verification at RMIT. He was recently awarded the “Outstanding Teaching Award in a Journalism Program” by the Journalism, Education and Research Association of Australia for his work on designing and teaching the subject. 

Gordon has He found open-source collection methods helped him build on existing journalistic investigation skills, allowing him to search deeper, find information faster, and uncover things that might otherwise have stayed hidden. 

At a time when mis and disinformation spread with ease, and AI-generated content presents more of a challenge than ever, Gordon says his OSINT skills help him to investigate some of the narratives intended to undermine society. 

Listen to find out why you should seek out information to challenge your world view, why journalists should learn OSINT skills, and why we often think with our heart (not our head) when we see misinformation. 

Show notes 

RMIT ABC Fact Check: https://www.abc.net.au/news/factcheck 

Truth mass index: https://theconversation.com/when-1-1-1-journalism-and-the-trouble-with-facts-17781 

Open Secret is an OSINT Combine podcast, produced by TributePod. 

Open Secret is recorded on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people. OSINT Combine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn. 

Content Warning. This episode of Open Secret contains references to themes of human trafficking, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, abuse, and violence which some individuals may find distressing. 

Alisa Gbiorczyk is an indomitable figure in the counter-human trafficking world. A self-described “hunter”, she has dedicated her life to tracking down perpetrators and working with law enforcement to disrupt criminal networks. 

In this episode of Open Secret, Alisa shares with Kylie and Jane the challenges and triumphs of combating this global issue. As an OSINT practitioner, trainer, and certified human trafficking investigator, she explores the challenges of working with explicit content and offers practical tips for protecting yourself and others online. 

Listen to find out why Alisa thinks everyone has a part to play in dismantling human trafficking networks, supporting survivors, and advocating for change. And how OSINT helps her do what she does best – hunting.  

Show notes 

CYBER NITEWATCH: https://cybernitewatch.com/ 

CYBER NITEWATCH on X: https://twitter.com/cybernitewatch 

CYBER NITEWATCH on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyber-nitewatch-llc/ 

Open Secret is an OSINT Combine podcast, produced by TributePod. 

Open Secret is recorded on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people. OSINT Combine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn. 

At a time when governments are increasingly prosecuting foreign policy through businesses, Cameron Mitchell says his OSINT skills translate perfectly into his current role as Head of Geopolitical Risk for ANZ. 

In this episode of the podcast Cameron explains that he can’t predict the future, but he can help the bank to proactively manage future risk and remain compliant amid geopolitical uncertainty. 

Listen to find out Cameron's advice on how to strategically position a geopolitically-focused intelligence function within a major financial corporation, how his UNTIDI acronym helps stakeholders better understand geopolitical risks, and how he uses open-source information for greater intelligence outcomes. 

Show notes 

‘UNTIDI’ geopolitics: https://bluenotes.anz.com/posts/2023/06/anz-news-geopolitics-trade-mitchell-global 

Open Secret is an OSINT Combine podcast, produced by TributePod. 

Open Secret is recorded on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people. OSINT Combine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn. 

Have you ever wondered what open-source intelligence is? How it can be used to inform strategic decision-making? Or make powerful change? Well, you’re not alone. 

Join hosts Kylie Pert and Jane van Tienen as they ask guests, Cameron Mitchell, Alisa Gbiorczyk, Gordon Farrer, Nikki Rutman and Gus Kangas to share their insights about the impact of open-source intelligence on our world.