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Open Source Intelligence and AI Crime Detection
Today, I realised how dramatically AI can help in investigating criminal activities through the analysis of publicly available information. When I think about it, investigators, journalists, and state authorities have always relied on their ability to connect information, recognise patterns, and uncover hidden links. But until recently, this was purely human work, slow, exhausting, and dependent on a person’s ability to notice details and combine facts. AI can speed up this process and take it to an entirely new level.
OSINT: Turning Public Data Into Investigative Intelligence
Beneficial Ownership and Corporate Network Analysis
Take business registries, for example. Many countries now have them publicly accessible, and we can search them manually. But what if AI could automatically scan these registries, compare ownership structures, and detect suspicious patterns? What if it could identify that a certain company has an unusually high volume of transactions with another, which is linked to a politically exposed person? Or track how company ownership changes shortly before securing a major government contract? This is already possible today, yet it is not being fully utilised.
Detecting Public Procurement Fraud
The same applies to public procurement. If the same companies repeatedly bid for tenders, if suspiciously similar pricing offers appear, or if an unknown company with minimal history unexpectedly wins, AI could quickly flag these irregularities. People might notice such patterns by chance, but a system that is continuously running and analysing all available data could detect them instantly.
Asset Monitoring and Politically Exposed Persons
Another fascinating use case is AI's ability to monitor the wealth of politicians and business figures. Today, asset declarations exist, but few systematically compare them with reality. What if AI could automatically pull data from land registries, corporate financial statements, and asset disclosures to identify discrepancies? For example, when someone with an officially low income owns luxury real estate or when expensive properties are purchased through a network of obscure companies.
Social Media OSINT and Link Analysis
Then there are social networks. Public posts, photos, location tags. All these are small puzzle pieces that can be assembled into a picture that someone never intended to reveal. AI could identify that two individuals who claim not to know each other actually spent a vacation together. Or that a politician who insists they have never met a particular business owner was in fact present at their private celebration. It’s both terrifying and fascinating how much can be reconstructed from publicly available data.
Blockchain Forensics and Anti-Money Laundering
It’s not just about politics and corruption. AI can be extremely useful in investigating tax fraud as well. Large-scale money laundering schemes often involve funds moving through dozens of companies in different countries. A human analyst might spend months mapping out these transactions, but AI could accomplish this within minutes. It could track money flows, analyse blockchain transactions, and detect patterns indicative of money laundering.
Mass Surveillance, Deepfakes, and the Collapse of Proof
I also reflect on what impact this could have on society. On one hand, there is enormous potential for uncovering fraud and criminal activity. On the other, there is the issue of privacy and the misuse of power.
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Summary
Common questions on this article's topic
How can AI help investigate corruption and financial crime?
Can AI detect irregularities in public procurement?
What is OSINT and how does AI enhance it?
Can AI track money laundering across multiple countries?
What are the risks of AI-powered investigation tools?
Could AI-generated fake evidence undermine investigations?
What is digital forensics and how does AI use it?
What is AI crime detection?
Who uses AI-powered open source intelligence in real investigations?
If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, feel free to drop me a message at mail@richardgolian.com.
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