[21 July 2025] In a world awash with data, the lines between secrets and open knowledge are increasingly blurred. The recent work by the Finnish investigative group CheckFirst is a striking reminder of this new reality. Using nothing more than publicly available images of commemorative badges—often sold on websites like eBay—a group of open-source researchers managed to reveal critical details about one of Russia’s most secretive cyber-intelligence units. This isn’t just a triumph of curiosity; it’s a powerful case study in how open-source intelligence (OSINT) is transforming the very nature of information gathering, research, and espionage.
CheckFirst’s 36-page report, “OSINT & Phaleristics”, shows how something as innocuous as a collectible can unlock strategic insights. The group analyzed Russian government-issued challenge coins linked to Center 16, a top-secret signals intelligence (SIGINT) arm of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), known for its cyber operations. What they uncovered—ten previously unknown directorates and the approximate locations of at least a dozen interception facilities—would be impressive for a state intelligence agency. For a civilian OSINT team, it’s extraordinary.
What does this tell us? First, that the democratization of intelligence is real—and irreversible. With sufficient skill, access to open data, and an analytical mindset, researchers and journalists today can uncover secrets once guarded by states. From geolocation of war crimes in Ukraine to the tracking of Russian troop movements via TikTok, OSINT is no longer an afterthought. It is a frontline discipline in global security and truth-seeking.
Second, the rise of OSINT places new pressures on governments and intelligence agencies. Security cannot depend solely on classification stamps or compartmentalization. Everything from satellite imagery to leaked photos, social media posts, or even collectible memorabilia can compromise operations. The abundance of digital breadcrumbs demands a fundamental rethink in operational security (OPSEC), especially for services like the FSB that operate with an illusion of opacity.
For researchers, this is a golden era—an age where digital forensics, metadata, and satellite maps offer a form of visibility never before imagined. But with great access comes great responsibility. OSINT must be practiced with discipline, verification, and ethical rigor. Sloppy or speculative work risks muddying the truth it seeks to illuminate.
For intelligence professionals, OSINT can no longer be dismissed as amateurish or peripheral. It is essential, and in many cases, faster and more transparent than traditional human or technical collection. Intelligence agencies must build deeper partnerships with the OSINT community, invest in analytical talent that understands the digital landscape, and adopt new methodologies that draw from both classified and open environments.
In a sense, the CheckFirst investigation is emblematic of a broader shift in the balance of power over information. The gates are open, the tools are widely available, and the world is watching. Intelligence today is no longer the monopoly of the state. It is an open game—and everyone is playing. [EIA]