🔎 What Is OSINT?
OSINT — short for Open Source Intelligence — is the process of collecting and analyzing information from publicly available sources to gain insight, track patterns, or support investigations. This includes things like news reports, public records, court filings, government databases, social media posts, maps, metadata, and satellite imagery.
If it’s open to the public and legal to access — it’s OSINT.
đź’ˇ Why OSINT Matters
In a time when trust is scarce and official answers are slow or incomplete, OSINT puts the power to investigate back in the hands of the public. It doesn’t require special access or privileged status. It just takes curiosity, patience, and the will to connect the dots.
Whether it’s confirming the facts behind a viral post, identifying misuse of public funds, or understanding how power flows in a community — OSINT equips us to:
- Investigate independently
- Hold institutions accountable
- Detect misinformation
- Map relationships between people, places, and decisions
🎯 Why We Use OSINT
We use OSINT because no one should have to ask permission to find the truth. Public records belong to the public. When officials delay, deflect, or dodge, OSINT gives us another way in — and gives you the receipts.
We don’t rely on insider tips or backroom favors. We rely on what’s already out there, waiting to be noticed. And we bring those findings back to the community where they belong. This work isn’t about ego or access — it’s about leveling the playing field.
đźš« What OSINT Is Not
Let’s be clear:
- OSINT is not hacking.
- It’s not invading privacy.
- It’s not gossip, guesswork, or conspiracy theory.
We don’t crack passwords. We don’t sneak into private accounts. We don’t publish anything we can’t back up. Everything we post comes from a verifiable, legal source. If we can’t show you the proof, we don’t publish it. That’s our line — and we hold it.
🤝 Want to Help?
You don’t need to be a reporter to make a difference. If you’ve found something suspicious, saved a post that vanished, or noticed a pattern others missed — send it our way.
We accept:
- Screenshots of official pages or public posts
- Meeting agendas, court filings, or budget reports
- Publicly available photos and video
- Links, timestamps, and other documentation
If you’re not sure it’s relevant, send it anyway. Sometimes the smallest detail unlocks a bigger story. We verify everything before we publish — and we protect our sources.
Use our tip form or email us directly. Anonymous tips welcome.
🛠️ How You Can Use OSINT
OSINT isn’t just a method — it’s a mindset. If you know how to search, compare, and document, you’re already halfway there.
Here are a few ways to start:
- Watch the watchers: Track city council, school board, or state meeting records.
- Verify media: Use reverse image search, Google Earth, or metadata to confirm what’s real.
- Follow the money: Campaign donations, contracts, grants, and budgets are public for a reason.
- Map networks: Who’s related, employed, connected, or appointed — it all matters.
You can do this. And when you do, you’re part of something bigger: a community that holds the line, asks better questions, and refuses to be left in the dark.