Confidentiality in a world of open data: How OSINT journalists safeguard privacy

As the volume of openly available digital data continues to grow exponentially daily, open-source intelligence methods have gained significant traction within the field of journalism, particularly for investigative news reporting. However, while this practice holds great potential for advancing journalism, it introduces a paradox between the ethos of transparency inherent in journalism and the privacy and security concerns of data subjects and brokers. This article delves into this contradiction by drawing on data from in-depth interviews with eight professional open-source journalists, shedding light on the underlying factors at play. By examining how open-source journalists perceive and navigate privacy issues while striving to achieve their investigative goals, it becomes evident that these journalists possess considerable power and awareness regarding the security and privacy of human data subjects and brokers. The findings of this study reveal that open-source journalists rely...Show moreAs the volume of openly available digital data continues to grow exponentially daily, open-source intelligence methods have gained significant traction within the field of journalism, particularly for investigative news reporting. However, while this practice holds great potential for advancing journalism, it introduces a paradox between the ethos of transparency inherent in journalism and the privacy and security concerns of data subjects and brokers. This article delves into this contradiction by drawing on data from in-depth interviews with eight professional open-source journalists, shedding light on the underlying factors at play. By examining how open-source journalists perceive and navigate privacy issues while striving to achieve their investigative goals, it becomes evident that these journalists possess considerable power and awareness regarding the security and privacy of human data subjects and brokers. The findings of this study reveal that open-source journalists rely heavily on personal assessments and ongoing dialogues with colleagues to make privacy-related editorial choices, as there is a dearth of established rules and guidelines in this domain. Consequently, open-source journalists frequently engage with their organizations’ legal departments as they harbor concerns about potential legal ramifications. This research provides valuable insights into the intricacies of open-source journalism, uncovering the delicate balance between journalistic transparency and privacy/security considerations. It underscores the need for further development of privacy-related frameworks and guidelines specific to the realm of open-source journalism while highlighting the pivotal role of open-source journalists in shaping the privacy landscape within their field.Show less

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Confidentiality in a world of open data: How OSINT journalists safeguard privacy