# Open sources

Open-source information is said to be open if:

* it is fully accessible by third parties.
* can be of individual or collective origin.
* can be collected and processed automatically or manually.

Open source categories:

* **Traditional Media** - newspapers, magazines, radio, and television.
* **Internet** - communities and user-generated content (social networks, video sharing networks, wikis, chats, and blogs).
* **Public Data** - official data from governmental and other organizations, conferences, speeches, from companies.
* **Observation and Reporting** - data collected by specialized citizens.
* **Pictures, Videos, and Sound** - maps, satellite images.
* **Professional and Academic** - grey literature, reports, and articles.

### Advantages

* open sources are less costly and quick to access.
* open sources provide information beyond closed sources and in greater quantities.
* open sources can reduce the need for the production of classified intelligence and complement the latter.
* does not compromise the purposes of the investigation.
* open sources are a contextual element for classified intelligence operations.

### Disadvantages

* open source information does not replace classified information due to its intentionally secretive nature.
* can be subject to misinformation or arbitrariness and therefore generally require a validation process.
* need experts in various domains, this is more relevant if foreign languages are involved.
* the amount of information available on the Internet is usually excessive, this implies the use of specific tools.
