This NSI Law and Policy Paper highlights:

 

• Critical Need: Open source intelligence (OSINT) has become vital to national security, providing unique insights from publicly available information that complements classified intelligence.
• Current Limitations: While the Intelligence Community recognizes OSINT’s importance, its integration within classified environments limits its full potential for rapid sharing and collaboration.
• Proposed Solution: Creation of an independent Executive Branch Open Source Information Agency outside the Intelligence Community, with an initial budget of $100 million and 100 civilian personnel.
• Key Benefits: The standalone agency would maximize OSINT’s utility across diplomatic, intelligence, military, and economic sectors while ensuring maximum information effectiveness through speed, scale, and shareability.

This backgrounder was authored by NSI Visiting Fellow David Gauthier.

Download the PDF here.