Get Active with OSINT
Put Your OSINT Skills to Good Use
OSINT skills are powerful tools that can be used to make a positive difference in the world. From helping locate missing persons to identifying objects and places, your expertise can contribute to important causes and assist those in need.
"The true value of OSINT lies not just in the collection of information, but in how that information is used to benefit society and uphold ethical standards."
Active OSINT Communities
These communities focus on using OSINT for ethical purposes such as finding missing persons, identifying objects and locations, and supporting law enforcement efforts. Join these groups to contribute your skills to meaningful causes.
Reddit Communities
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r/whatisthisthing
Help identify mysterious objects, artifacts, and items that people discover.
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r/TraceAnObject
Work with Europol to identify objects from child sexual abuse material to help law enforcement investigations. A critical community for applying OSINT skills to protect children.
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r/RBI (Reddit Bureau of Investigation)
A community dedicated to solving mysteries, finding information, and helping others through crowdsourced investigations.
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r/whereisthis
Help identify locations from photos using geolocation skills.
Missing Persons Initiatives
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National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
A national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases.
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Doe Network
International center for unidentified and missing persons cases where volunteers can help with research.
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National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Organization that provides resources for families and professionals to help find missing children.
Disaster Response & Humanitarian
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Digital Humanitarian Network
Network leveraging digital volunteers to support humanitarian response efforts worldwide.
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Tomnod
Crowdsourcing platform that uses satellite imagery to identify objects and places after disasters.
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Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team
Create maps to support disaster response and community development.
Law Enforcement Support
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Crimestoppers
Anonymous reporting service that allows the public to provide information about crimes.
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Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center for reporting internet crimes.
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Europol Stop Child Abuse
Initiative that uses crowdsourcing to identify objects in child sexual abuse material to help investigations.
Citizen Investigation Projects
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Bellingcat
An independent international collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists using open source and social media investigation.
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Websleuths
Online community that discusses and attempts to solve cold cases and mysteries.
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Zooniverse
Platform for people-powered research that occasionally includes projects related to humanitarian efforts.
Environmental Monitoring
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SkyTruth
Uses satellite imagery and remote sensing data to identify and monitor environmental threats and incidents.
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Global Forest Watch
Online platform that monitors forests in near real-time, where users can report and track deforestation.
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iNaturalist
Community for naturalists to record observations of plants and animals, contributing to biodiversity research.
Ethical Guidelines for Active OSINT
Respect Privacy
Always respect individuals' privacy rights. Just because information is publicly available doesn't mean it should be shared widely or used inappropriately.
Verify Information
Cross-check information from multiple sources before sharing. Misinformation can cause harm and damage the credibility of the community.
Follow Legal Boundaries
Stay within legal boundaries. Don't hack, trespass, or engage in activities that violate laws or terms of service of platforms you use.
Collaborate with Authorities
When working on cases related to crimes or missing persons, share relevant information with appropriate authorities rather than taking matters into your own hands.
Important Reminder
While your OSINT skills can be incredibly valuable in these communities, always prioritize ethical considerations and follow the specific guidelines of each platform. Remember that the goal is to help, not to invade privacy or interfere with official investigations.
Getting Started
- Choose a community that aligns with your interests and skills from the options above.
- Familiarize yourself with the rules and guidelines of the community before participating.
- Start small by observing how the community works and contributing to simpler cases.
- Document your process so others can understand how you reached your conclusions.
- Collaborate respectfully with other members, building on each other's findings.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Your OSINT skills can have a real impact on important causes. Choose a community that resonates with you and start contributing today.
Explore Communities →