Socmint Ir
Socmint Ir
Socmint Ir
S3632873
Intelligence Revolution
Final Paper
The rise of social media has fundamentally reshaped the access to information, within
the private and public sphere. For intelligence agencies, this revolution called for an
adaptation of their methods and the redefinition of their role as intelligence agencies
traditional goal is “the collection, analyze and dissemination of information that helps
governments understand and respond to threats” (Agrell & Treverton, 2014). In 2012, Social
Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) was coined and with the adoption of those new technics and
tools, multiple repercussions, changes, and the rise of new challenges for intelligence
agencies. Thus, we argue that the proliferation of SOCMINT revolutionized the intelligence
sector by transforming their methods and capabilities, with significant implications for
national security and civil liberties. To understand the impact of SOCMINT on intelligence,
we will start by giving the historical context and describe its close relation with open-source
intelligence (OSINT). Afterwards, we will analyze the revolutionary shift SOCMINT brough
to the intelligence sector. Then, the consequences and implications caused by that new field
will be discussed. Finally, this paper will delve into the challenges and future implications
that this revolution brough to agencies.
bombers. That crucial information was used by intelligence and law enforcement agencies to
assess the critical situation and control the current threat (Abad-Santos, 2013).
Another aspect that reshaped the role of agencies is the monitoring of social sentiment
and movements. By tracking and monitoring platforms, the massive amount of user-generator
content which can include locations, main actors or information on coordinated action can be
utilized. This gives agencies the opportunity to understand citizen’s concerns which could
reveal a potential threat but also serve as a predictor of future unrest (Charania, 2016). A
representative case is the use of social media during the French yellow vest movement
(YVM). The movement started in 2018 in France and was vastly publicized and covered
through social media (Baisnée, 2020). With the sharing of details and organization of public
demonstrations or collective actions, the information became accessible to other users but
also to intelligence agencies. As a result, the monitoring, tracking and utilization of those
information were used to control, anticipate, and sometimes suppress collective actions
(Baisnée, 2020). Thus, the use of SOCMINT also created a shift in the collection process,
enhanced their predictive measures but it also redefined the role of intelligence agencies.
(Omand, 2012). This challenges agencies as it can cause delays in reports and, most
importantly inaccurate information can have dramatic consequences on agencies actions,
risking operations.
Another aspect of SOCMINT that needs to be taken into consideration are the ethical
considerations it entails. The capacity to access such vast volume of data, either private or
public expands the power and influence of agencies. Consequently, by using SOCMINT as a
tool, intelligence agencies must re-define their role to find a correct balance between
individual privacy and security or national needs. Scandals such as Snowden’s revelation of
state surveillance and big data surveillance disclosed not only top-secret leaks but also the
abuse of agencies power and influence (Lyon, 2014). Defining with a clear framework the
rights and limits of the utilization of social media platforms is vital to avoid an abuse of
power. Such scenarios, in which governmental agencies misuses and exploit SOCMINT can
be observed within the current North Korean regime (Gause, 2012). By access social media
platforms, the authoritarian regime can identify, monitor, and track dissidents or enemies of
the states. This exploitation of SOCMINT has dramatic consequences on citizens individual
rights and especially their safety and security as they can be targeted or suppressed.
Nevertheless, mentioned earlier, SOCMINT is a double edge sword which implies that by
using those same techniques but towards different aims, SOCMINT can be beneficial.
References:
Abad-Santos, A. (2022, May 12). Reddit's 'Find Boston Bombers' Founder Says 'It Was a Disaster' but
boston-bombers-founder-interview/315987/
Agrell, W., & Treverton, G. F. (2015). National Intelligence and Science: Beyond the Great Divide in
Baisnée, O., Cavé, A., Gousset, C., Nollet, J., & Parent, F. (2022). The digital coverage of the yellow
https://doi.org/10.1057/s41253-022-00190-0
Gause, K. (n.d.). Coercion, Control, Surveillance, and Punishment An Examination of the North
Korean Police State The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.
https://www.hrnk.org/uploads/pdfs/HRNK_Ken-Gause_Web.pdf
Lyon, D. (2014). Surveillance, Snowden, and Big Data: Capacities, consequences, critique. Big Data
Omand, D., Bartlett, J., & Miller, C. (2012). Introducing Social Media Intelligence
823. https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2012.716965