Standard Investigative Workflows Departing from Names, Aliases, Email Addresses, Images,
and More….

Intelligence (SOCMINT)
What is SOCMINT?
Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) is considered to be a subdiscipline of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT). SOCMINT can be defined as the techniques, technologies, and tools that
allow for the collection and analysis of information from social media platforms. SOCMINT can be harnessed by government or non-state actors, such as private intelligence agencies or marketing companies, in order to gain knowledge about specific individuals, groups, events, or any number of other targets. While SOCMINT is generally considered to fall under the category of OSINT, there are some key differences worth noting.

SOCMINT vs. OSINT
SOCMINT is not as straightforward as OSINT because there is a belief, particularly by users and privacy advocates, that there is some expectation of privacy when using a social media platform. While OSINT investigators may not agree with this expectation, there is another aspect of SOCMINT worth considering.
OSINT investigations focus solely on information that is available publicly, but SOCMINT can also use information found on social media platforms that was intended only for a specific
audience. For instance, the lines can be blurred if an investigator must join a private group or create a fake account in order to gain access to information provided by a person of interest.
These situations make SOCMINT more difficult to navigate for those engaging in these investigations, and every effort should be made in order to comply with laws, regulations, and policies around intelligence gathering and investigations.