OSINT with ShadowDragon & Digital Tools For Modern Investigations

OSINT with ShadowDragon & Digital Tools For Modern Investigations

By Daniel Clemens from ShadowDragon, LLCBusinessEntrepreneurshipTechnology
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OSINT with ShadowDragon & Digital Tools For Modern Investigations episodes

  • S04 E05: Melisa Stivaletti, the Queen of OSINT, on Elevating OSINT with AI, Private-Public Synergy, and More

    • Guest 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 .

                    31 min
                  • S04 E04: Operationalizing Publicly Available Information

                    Former Green Beret and national-security advocate Doug Livermore joins the ShadowDragon team to unpack how publicly available information (PAI) and commercial open-source intelligence (OSINT) are transforming modern conflict—and why agile private-sector partners now shape outcomes as much as governments do.

                    Key points & take-aways

                    • Breaking the “intel vs. ops” firewall

                      • * U.S. commanders once distrusted anything that didn’t come from classified HUMINT or SIGINT; today, PAI often drives the find-fix-finish cycle faster than traditional sources.

                    • Field lessons from five theaters

                      • * Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali, the DRC, and the Central African Republic showed that PAI is frequently the only data commanders can legally share with immature or non-NATO partner forces.
                      * Cheap commercial tools—Google Maps, social media scraping, Internet-of-Things exhaust—now reveal patterns of life, financial flows, and physical locations in minutes.

                    • Cultural turning points

                      • * The Arab Spring (2010) and ISIS propaganda boom (2014-15) proved that open networks can topple regimes and expose targets.
                      * Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war brought OSINT to prime time, with private analysts mapping tank battalions and documenting war crimes in real time.

                    • Afghanistan 2021: Private networks move faster than states

                      • * Livermore’s nonprofits No One Left Behind and SOAA used PAI, commercial satellites, and encrypted chat to steer evacuees past Taliban checkpoints when official channels bogged down.
                      * U.S. intelligence officers quietly pulled data from these civilian ops centers—a preview of future public-private crisis response.

                    • Information warfare & influence ops

                      • * Open digital terrain lets both democracies and adversaries micro-target audiences, erode civil trust, or rally global support; mastering sentiment analysis is now a core skill for operators.

                    • Policy & the road ahead

                      • * Expect formalized private-public frameworks that let nonprofits and tech firms plug straight into combatant-command fusion cells.
                      * Civil-liberties safeguards must keep pace, distinguishing U.S. person data from foreign-adversary exploitation.

                      Special Guest: Doug Livermore.

                      44 min
                    • S04 E03 Part 2: Human Trafficking in Online Marketplaces (Part 2): Exposing the Threats & Tools to Fight Back

                      In this episode of the Shadow Dragon podcast, Director of National Security David Cook hosts a conversation for National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The panel features:

                      • Matt Richardson, Senior Advisor of Intelligence and Child Safety at the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) and Head of Intelligence at the Canadian OSINT Center
                      • Daniel Clemens, CEO and Founder of Shadow Dragon
                      • Elliot Anderson, 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.

                          34 min
                        • S04 E02 Part 1: Human Trafficking in Online Marketplaces (Part 1): Exposing the Threats & Tools to Fight Back

                          In this episode of the Shadow Dragon podcast, Director of National Security David Cook hosts a conversation for National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The panel features:

                          • Matt Richardson, Senior Advisor of Intelligence and Child Safety at the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII) and Head of Intelligence at the Canadian OSINT Center
                          • Daniel Clemens, CEO and Founder of Shadow Dragon
                          • Elliot Anderson, CTO of Shadow Dragon

                            • They discuss how human traffickers operate, the indicators that a child or adult may be at risk, and the ways online investigative tools—particularly open-source intelligence (OSINT) platforms—support law enforcement efforts. Matt shares the emotional toll of these cases and the importance of self-care for investigators, emphasizing that while the work can be harrowing, it is a privilege to help protect vulnerable individuals. The group also highlights the power of community partnerships, legal collaboration, and technology in preventing human trafficking and rescuing victims. This episode is part one of a three-part series focusing on human trafficking and online marketplaces, with a strong warning that some content may be disturbing to listeners.

                            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.

                            1 hr
                          • S04 E01 - OSINT in the Maritime Domain with Rae Baker

                            In this episode of the ShadowDragon Podcast, host Nico Dekens and co-host David Cook interview Rae Baker, a senior OSINT analyst and maritime specialist. They explore how open-source intelligence (OSINT) applies to the maritime domain, highlighting how tools like AIS (Automatic Identification System) data, satellite imagery, and social media can help track vessels and uncover suspicious activities such as sanctions evasion or illegal cargo transfers.

                            Rae explains the importance of historical context—knowing typical vessel routes and behaviors—to spot anomalies that may indicate illicit or sanctioned cargo, and also touches on how adversaries employ “shadow fleets,” spoof AIS signals, and hide ownership behind shell companies. The conversation concludes with advice for analysts, compliance teams, and insurers on mitigating risks, conducting thorough due diligence, and leveraging AI as a complement (not a substitute) to human expertise.

                            Special Guest: Rae Baker.

                            46 min
                          • S3 E12: How a Former CIA Targeter Uses OSINT

                            The guys cover how OSINT is used in monitoring the unrest in Syria, and the tragic killing of Brian Thompson, United Healthcare’s CEO, on his way to the company’s investor day. Hosted by Nico “Dutch OSINT Guy” Dekens, Director of Intelligence and Collection Innovation, and David Cook, Director of National Security, with guest Jake Robinson, ShadowDragon’s Director of Product.

                            Jake's Background:

                            o Jake shared his journey from a U.S. Army intelligence analyst in human intelligence (HUMINT) to the CIA, where he was a targeting officer.
                            o Discussion of the importance of open-source data in intelligence operations and its evolving use in government.

                            Geopolitical Insights:

                            o Syria's current instability, including Bashar al Assad's exile and the rise of groups like Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is discussed as a geopolitical event that has effects around the world.
                            o OSINT tools can be used to monitor key players and groups for patterns and motivations. Social media platforms, like Telegram, are crucial for real-time intelligence gathering.

                            Practical Applications of OSINT in the News Last Week:

                            o Real-world monitoring of geopolitical and domestic incidents, such as the assassination of United Healthcare’s CEO, demonstrates OSINT's role in monitoring real-time events.
                            o OSINT is used widely for threat assessments for executives and principles to build a ‘threat profile’ or ‘threat matrix’ that can define or identify security vulnerabilities to fix.
                            o The team emphasized balancing public exposure with security for high-profile individuals and companies is a double-edged sword – the need to be public while simultaneously maintaining safety.

                            Challenges in Verification:

                            o Issues of misinformation and false data, particularly in high-profile cases (e.g., fake accounts of suspects), highlight the need for robust validation processes in OSINT.

                            Tools and Techniques:

                            o Shadow Dragon’s tools, like Horizon, are designed for real-time monitoring, metadata analysis, and creating timelines to distinguish credible information from noise.
                            Key Takeaway:
                            OSINT is invaluable in today’s world. More data and information are public every day – use it to enhance security, monitor geopolitical events, and mitigate corporate risk. OSINT’s effectiveness depends on timely collection, thorough validation, and cautious interpretation.

                            Learn more at:

                            Special Guest: Jake Robinson.

                            30 min
                          • S03 E11: Biotech Security and National Threats: Navigating Open Source Intelligence, Supply Chain Risks, and Insider Threats

                            In this episode, hosts Nico ‘Dutch OSINT Guy’ Dekens and David Cook welcome special guest Jackie Giunta, a corporate intelligence expert with a military intelligence background. Together, they dive deep into the complex intersection of national security, biotechnology, and corporate intelligence. They discuss the rising challenges, and opportunities, in open-source intelligence, the potential risks in global biotech supply chains, insider threats, and the growing influence of nation-state adversaries. Join us as we explore the importance of private-public partnerships and proactive approaches to safeguarding the biotech industry in an increasingly complex global landscape.

                            Special Guest: Jackie Giunta.

                            37 min
                          • S03 E10: Navigating Election Monitoring: Insights on Security, Disinformation, and Social Media Trends

                            This episode is all about the intricate process of using OSINT to monitor elections, with a focus on security and disinformation. The conversation explores the challenges faced by analysts as they track social media trends, identify potential threats, and combat myths and false information that can undermine election integrity. They highlight how disinformation campaigns, foreign influence, and deepfakes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it crucial for analysts to stay vigilant. The episode focuses on how local authorities and businesses can prepare for potential unrest surrounding elections and the vital role of monitoring tools in ensuring a smooth and secure process.

                            Special Guest: Brye Ravettine.

                            43 min
                          • S03 E09: Unconventional Influence: OSINT for Psychological Operations and Business Warfare with Russ Robson | Shadow Dragon Podcast S3E9

                            In this episode of the ShadowDragon Podcast (Season 3, Episode 9), Russ Robson, a former Special Operations soldier and author of Unconventional Influence: The Ethical Psyop Manual for Modern Business Warfare, joins the show. Russ shares insights from his fascinating career journey—from a bluegrass drummer and business owner to joining the Army at 34 as a combat medic, and eventually becoming a Psyop specialist. He delves into his experiences working with the Colombian army on influence operations and narrative warfare. Russ also discusses the power of storytelling in business, using target audience analysis, and the parallels between psychological operations in the military and the corporate world. This episode offers a deep dive into the layers of identity, culture, and messaging, providing valuable lessons for both military and business strategies.

                            Don't miss this compelling conversation about unconventional influence and its applications in modern warfare and beyond!

                            Special Guest: Russ Robson.

                            55 min

                          About OSINT with ShadowDragon & Digital Tools For Modern Investigations

                          From the publisher's feed

                          This podcast covers a variety of cyber security topics, with a focus on candor, and zero b.s. Topics may include OSINT, PAI, Tailored Monitoring, Investigations, Offensive Disciplines, AI/ML, Object…