The impact of cybercrime on governments, business and individuals is unprecedented. Reportedly it costs the world almost $600 billion or 0.8 percent of global GDP.¹ Fighting cybercrime and promoting security has, thus, become a priority. However, criminal justice authorities are facing numerous challenges trying to keep the pace with the evolution of techniques used by cybercriminals. There is a need to continuously acquire new skills and knowledge in order to be able to investigate these crimes.

In this regard, harvesting public records available online, in order to compile complex profiles of certain targets is becoming extremely important for the law enforcement. Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is an important tool for intelligence gathering and a major instrument for policing. Cybercriminals spend a lot of time online and have a large presence either in social media or on the internet in general. With the large amount of available open sources, fighting cybercrime depends, inclusively, on the software tools and techniques to collect and process the information in an effective manner.

In the framework of the Joint Project of the European Union and the Council of Europe - iPROCEEDS, a 5-days training on Open Source Intelligence based on ECTEG materials was organised from 21 to 25 October 2019 in Bucharest, Romania. The training attended by law enforcement officers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Turkey, Kosovo*² and Romania, has strengthened investigators’ skills and knowledge on how to effectively use the Internet, social media and other digital resources in support of intelligence-led policing in investigating cybercrime cases and cases involving electronic evidence.

• iPROCEEDS project webpage
• Outline