On 13 March 2024, Clingendael will implement a workshop on open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis and countering disinformation in Georgia. This half-day online workshop is designed for up to 25 participants from the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia) who already have some experience working with OSINT. It is also open to staff of other international organisations active in civilian crisis management in the country.
EUMM Georgia and other international peace missions in the country and region operate in a context of hybrid warfare, in which disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilising the social fabric of Georgian society and undermining European solidarity frequently occur. EUMM Georgia, specifically, monitors activities on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Lines with Abkhazia and South Ossetia by patrolling the area and gathering and assessing open-source intelligence through various channels.
The workshop aims to support EUMM Georgia staff and staff of other international peace missions in Georgia in their ability to identify and manage disinformation narratives in their professional practice and offer them a standardised methodology for gathering and analysing open-source intelligence.
After the course, the participants will be able to gather and assess open source intelligence in a targeted manner, recognise fake news and disinformation spread, especially via social media channels, more easily, increase their resilience to it, and identify the state and non-state actors engaging with disinformation during a crisis.
Capturing the essence of open source intelligence is a quote said by a fictional character in the film Wall Street, Gordon Gekko:
“The most valuable commodity I know of is information.”
We believe this training will help the participants understand the value and impact of information in the digital society we all live in.
