Coffee & Conversation with Jason Barrett

On Thursday, July 18, 2024, INSA hosted a virtual Coffee and Conversation with Jason Barrett, the IC OSINT Executive. In a moderated discussion with INSA Vice President John Doyon, Mr. Barrett explored the evolving role of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in supporting policymakers.

Recording courtesy of OSINT series sponsor, Janes!

Mr. Barrett began by sharing how his experiences within the IC have given him a deep appreciation for information that is truly meaningful to decision-makers. He expressed an interest in finding effective ways to deliver that information. Over the past 20 years, OSINT has increasingly become the primary source of most insights. During this time, the information environment has rapidly evolved, and the amount of available data has skyrocketed, making OSINT even more essential.

Mr. Barrett described the four pillars of the recently released IC OSINT Strategy, which aims to position OSINT as a core intelligence discipline and enable the IC to fully harness its potential. Notably, the report introduced a new definition of OSINT for the first time in 20 years, expanding it to include “information derived exclusively from publicly and commercially available sources.”

He highlighted that using OSINT more effectively, including commercially available data, could save the government significant storage costs. Mr. Barrett concluded by emphasizing that we are entering an era where OSINT is seen not just as a nice-to-have but as a necessity. To meet this moment, it is crucial for government and industry to build partnerships and collaborate to develop and leverage open-source tools and data more effectively.