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No More Secrets? De-monopolizing Intelligence

Vrist Rønn, Kira and Ördén, Hedvig LU orcid (2025) In Canadian Foreign Policy Journal
Abstract
Intelligence scholars have described the contemporary availability of
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and the entrance of civil society actors
into the field of intelligence as a “democratization of intelligence”, thereby
portraying a fundamentally positive and inclusive enterprise. Assessing
the implications of the recent explosion of OSINT groups and activists for
traditional state intelligence actors, this chapter instead introduces the
concept of de-monopolization. A turn to de-monopolization brings
attention to the competitive aspects arising when civil society actors
enter the field of intelligence. The chapter outlines two different forms of
competition currently affecting state intelligence... (More)
Intelligence scholars have described the contemporary availability of
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and the entrance of civil society actors
into the field of intelligence as a “democratization of intelligence”, thereby
portraying a fundamentally positive and inclusive enterprise. Assessing
the implications of the recent explosion of OSINT groups and activists for
traditional state intelligence actors, this chapter instead introduces the
concept of de-monopolization. A turn to de-monopolization brings
attention to the competitive aspects arising when civil society actors
enter the field of intelligence. The chapter outlines two different forms of
competition currently affecting state intelligence actors: a competition for
insights and a competition for epistemic authority. Describing these
contemporary tendencies and their impact on state intelligence work, the
chapter then discusses how an increase in OSINT by civil society actors
generates new tasks for intelligence actors, introduces new ideals, and
pushes state intelligence agencies to defend their expertise in public. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
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Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
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Canadian Foreign Policy Journal
ISSN
2157-0817
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4d3b1084-bdd5-4651-a5ef-da15b7e2e5ab
date added to LUP
2025-11-05 15:00:28
date last changed
2025-11-05 16:02:18
@article{4d3b1084-bdd5-4651-a5ef-da15b7e2e5ab,
  abstract     = {{Intelligence scholars have described the contemporary availability of<br/>Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and the entrance of civil society actors<br/>into the field of intelligence as a “democratization of intelligence”, thereby<br/>portraying a fundamentally positive and inclusive enterprise. Assessing<br/>the implications of the recent explosion of OSINT groups and activists for<br/>traditional state intelligence actors, this chapter instead introduces the<br/>concept of de-monopolization. A turn to de-monopolization brings<br/>attention to the competitive aspects arising when civil society actors<br/>enter the field of intelligence. The chapter outlines two different forms of<br/>competition currently affecting state intelligence actors: a competition for<br/>insights and a competition for epistemic authority. Describing these<br/>contemporary tendencies and their impact on state intelligence work, the<br/>chapter then discusses how an increase in OSINT by civil society actors<br/>generates new tasks for intelligence actors, introduces new ideals, and<br/>pushes state intelligence agencies to defend their expertise in public.}},
  author       = {{Vrist Rønn, Kira and Ördén, Hedvig}},
  issn         = {{2157-0817}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  series       = {{Canadian Foreign Policy Journal}},
  title        = {{No More Secrets? De-monopolizing Intelligence}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}