Use of information from open sources as research measures in investigation of illicit traffic of cultural goods

URL: https://dspace.academy.police.md/use-of-information-from-open-sources-as-research-measures-in-investigation-of-illicit-traffic-of-cultural-goods/

Data: 2025

The collection of “information” from open sources comes mainly from the Internet, but also from mass media, such as television, and regrettably less from newspapers, magazines and radio. At first, the analysis of information was based on the use of these sources as a “supplement” to the traditional analysis based on classified data, and the systematic collection of information from open sources was not a priority for the intelligence communities. However, in recent years, significant changes in international social life have increased interest in exploring open sources. The importance given to this information has increased considerably over time, largely due to technological advances, but also due to the fact that it’s efficient management has highlighted elements that have transformed the activity of specialized services. The transformation of information from open sources into useful capabilities is the main stage, achieved through specific methods. Technology plays an essential role, given the large volume of information available, and the isolation of relevant ones is essential in this process. This step is part of a broader analysis process, and the information obtained from open sources, after being filtered and extracted, is correlated with other data obtained through other sources.