OSINT Training Log: Brussels OSINT Conference

Over 200 key members of Belgium's police agencies — including civil, federal, and military branches — gathered at the Brussels Police Center for the Brussels OSINT Conference, featuring an OSINT Training presentation by OSINT Industries. Proudly presenting beside OsinTracker, we paved the way for future collaborations with European law enforcement.‍

Mission Objective: Introducing OSINT Skills to Top Officers 

May 30th. At the heart of Belgium's capital, over 200 law enforcement officers from civil, federal, and military branches came together for the Belgian Federal Police’s 2nd Annual Brussels OSINT Conference (BOC). This meeting of minds featured a presentation by OSINT Industries, delivering OSINT Training in partnership with OsinTracker. 

OSINT Industries led a comprehensive hour-long crash-course in crucial OSINT skills for the top law enforcement professionals in attendance. Backed up with workshops and more, this quick-fire initiative was designed to enhance online and offline investigative skills, empowering officers with the Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) methodologies required to tackle Europe’s modern-day criminal activity.

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Challenge: OSINT in the Face of Modern Crime

‍‘It's not only about Belgium, it's a question for Europe.’ - M^e Bohnert, Sky ECC Defense Lawyer [Source: Politico]

Brussels has a unique position as both target and hub for Europe’s cybercriminal activity. In Europe’s diverse and developing cybercrime landscape, Belgium — particularly Brussels, a city symbolic of European governance and international collaboration — is emerging as a focal point for digital threat actors attempting to affect the wider European Union.

Both foreign and domestic actors seek to exploit weaknesses in digital infrastructure here. From ransomware attacks on financial institutions, to cyberterrorism, to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) distribution, to those exploiting the double-edge of internet anonymity for darkweb trafficking in drugs and human beings, Belgium can present a gateway to the continent.

Cybercriminal groups of all forms, be they pedophiles or terrorists, have adopted advanced encryption and privacy-focused platforms to elude detection, something the EU struggles to tackle. Law enforcement agencies must evolve quickly to keep up. This is where OSINT Training comes in; officers are increasingly strategically reliant on OSINT as the only way to navigate and disrupt a dark digital landscape that’s become the ideal environment to expand cybercriminal operations undetected. 

‍‘Boom, Mare hits him in the head. … He got a brutal beating, by then, bro, he was already seriously unconscious. … Afterwards, bro, he was all black. He didn’t resist much, didn’t cry, nothing. He was in terrible shock.’ - A Serbian gang member’s text message, found on a Sky ECC phone. [Source: OCCRP]

‍Major collaborative inter-European OSINT operations are already dismantling complex criminal networks. Many cases would remain unsolved - or at least unprosecutable - without OSINT. The infamous 2020 EncroChat case leveraged data French and Dutch authorities had gathered while infiltrating the aforementioned encrypted messaging platform, a favorite of European organized criminals. Law enforcement could effectively decrypt the network, monitoring and recording real-time illicit conversations; blow-by-blow accounts of murders, drug deals and trafficking on Sky ECC phones. The results were over 1,000 arrests including major crime figures, and the seizure of more than two tonnes of drugs, several dozen guns and £54m in suspect cash.

‍‘It relied on the ignorance of how parliament works…’ - Francesco Giorgi, convicted MEP’s aide, on ‘Qatargate’. [Source: Politico]

These threats can come from within too, and OSINT is vital in understanding them. The ‘Qatargate’ money-for-influence scandal unfolded in late 2022, exposing big-money Moroccan and Qatari interference at the highest level within the European Parliament. Investigations relied heavily on OSINT data - emails, social media analysis, suspicious financial flows and connections between involved parties - leading to the arrest of several MEPs and a Parliamentary vice president, Eva Kaili. Only OSINT could allow officers to make sense of deliberately obfuscated data, and untangle the thorny web of corruption and bribery that had grown up within the EU itself. 

Yet criminal networks are not the greatest danger. Extreme crises occur that attempt to disrupt Europe’s infrastructure, and these tragedies emphasize that OSINT is needed to protect Brussels as Europe’s vulnerable heart. 

In 2021, the Belgian Defense Ministry was hit by a ransomware attack: data was encrypted and held for ransom. OSINT analysts were able to use threat intelligence from publicly available databases and hacker forums to track the group responsible for this cyberterrorist attack, a Chinese state-backed organization. This incident, costing 2.25 million, underscored the presence of anti-EU cyber warfare and the necessity of cyber vigilance, spurring the EU to increase funding for cybersecurity initiatives - like OSINT Training. 

However, sadly, not all serious attacks are bloodless affairs. The role of OSINT in countering radicalization is critical in preventing physical terror, and horrors have occurred that demonstrate the devastating results if intelligence fails. After the 2016 Brussels bombings, EU investigators began closely monitoring social media for Daesh recruitment and extremist communications across Europe; vital SOCMINT work that continues today, but began too late. These bombings suggested the vital need for Belgian and European intelligence services to ‘close the gap’ in their strategies, and modernize to better resist attempts to tear the European community apart. ‘

Each time the terrorists attack, they mean to divide us…’ - Theresa May, Former UK Prime Minister [Source: Hansard]

Almost ten years on, the Brussels OSINT Conference (BOC) was born. Like Brussels is a symbol of Europe’s powerful collaboration, the BOC is a symbol of how far Europe’s commitment to advancing OSINT skills across law enforcement agencies has come. Recent OSINT successes show that - true to its reputation - Brussels, a hub of international governance and cybersecurity, now stands at the forefront of European OSINT efforts, showcasing a stronger, smarter intelligence community.

OSINT Training: OSINT Industries @ Brussels OSINT Conference

‍Course: ‘OSINT Tools & Training: OSINT for Law Enforcement and Government Investigators’
‍Duration: 1 Hour
‍Equipment: N/A

Skills Developed:

In Belgium, recent surges in cybercrime, all forms of trafficking, cyberterrorism and organized crime have underscored the urgent need for skills in OSINT to reinforce national security. Our high-speed, high-intensity introductory OSINT Training presentation is designed to start officers on their OSINT journey. This presentation’s briefings on key areas of focus are targeted to help trainees investigate digital crime more effectively, and designed to work seamlessly with existing Belgian and European police systems. 

• Fundamentals of OSINT: The foundational OSINT skills - often already familiar - including how to identify a valuable open data source, and research effectively and ethically, and basic Operational Security (OpSec). Officers learned when and where OSINT will make the biggest difference in investigations.
• Digital Footprint Analysis: Like footprints in the sand, cyber criminals leave tracks with their online activity. ’Digital footprints’ are evidence that forms the core of a successful investigation - and prosecution. Training pattern recognition for suspicious social media posts, site visits, and metadata enables these officers to identify illicit behavior and unveil offenders' online identities. Officers also learned how to navigate and access encrypted data.
• Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT): The EU has longstanding conflict with platforms that scrimp on moderation and lack corporate responsibility. This makes monitoring and infiltrating social media essential; SOCMINT is also key in identification and people searching efforts. Officers are trained in the basics of parsing and utilizing data from platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok with the help of OSINT tools. 
• OSINT Tools for Evidence Gathering: Officers found out which advanced OSINT tools are available to gather and analyze investigative data, including OSINT Industries, and how to make the most of them. Training emphasized how OSINT tools feature built-in ethics and compliance checks and data reporting features that preserve the chain of custody that’s vital to pursue legal proceedings successfully.

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#OSINT4Good: Committing to a Safer Europe

The conference not only strengthened OSINT capabilities but also fostered collaboration among officers from different branches. This inter-agency cooperation enhances Belgium’s capacity to counteract transnational threats, builds a network for continued knowledge exchange; teamwork, after all, is what OSINT is all about.One important aspect of collaboration at the Brussels OSINT Conference was between OSINT organizations that participated in this event. OSINT Industries collaborated with OSINTracker to present at this Conference, and thanks also go out to Maltego (with which we’re proud to offer an integration) and groundbreaking non-profit FARI - AI for the Common Good Institute.

We’re proud to work together because at OSINT Industries, #OSINT4Good is more than just a catchy slogan. This OSINT Training presentation — part of our commitment to support law enforcement globally in embracing OSINT — was offered at no cost to Belgian officers, ensuring they have access to the essential tools for modern policing.

At the 2nd Annual BOC, we were happy to build connections with not only other OSINT organizations, but primarily European law enforcement. We kept in mind the purpose of our presentation to engage officers in further OSINT Training - the high level of interest in continuing was great to see!

Training Evaluation

Officers left the Brussels OSINT Conference with confidence in their OSINT skills, and many officers took up our offer to learn more. OSINT Industries is proud to play a role in making Belgium - and Europe - a safer place. Curious about OSINT Training? Explore the OSINT Industries Academy.