Open source intelligence and related issues in counter terrorism

Terrorists use all possibilities internet provides for their criminal acts. Because of that, law enforcement officers need continuous training to conduct investigations successfully. The Police Academy of the Netherlands organised course 88/2019 Open Source Intelligence/ E-evidence/ Encryption Technologies used to facilitate terrorism, in collaboration with Europol and Eurojust. From 11th until 15th November 2019 the training was held in Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

Thirty-three law enforcement officers participated in this course: from 19 Member States, Europol, Frontex, Denmark, Norway and Turkey. They were offered a variety of presentations:

• Heimen Engeltjes, lecturer at the Police Academy of the Netherlands, “Definition and update on terrorism”
• Hannie Dijkslag and Lars van Mulligen, lecturers at the Police Academy of the Netherlands, “Overview of Cyber threats” and “General OSINT Techniques”
• Javier Martin Vallejo, ECTC Europol, The SIRIUS platform
• Gabor Ivanics, Eurojust, Legal issues and legal framework of the EU and US
• Marco Doodeman and Richard Driessen, lecturers at the Police Academy of the Netherlands, “Darkweb” and “E-evidence”
• Edwin Bakker, Professor University of Leiden/ Head of the Knowledge and Research Department of the Police Academy of the Netherlands, “OSINT report Destination Syria”

Practising was a significant part of the training. This was highly appreciated by the attendees. One of them wrote in the evaluation:

“This was a very good course with plenty of practical examples, not just theoretical things”.

Staff members of the Knowledge and Research Department of the Police Academy organised the training, supported by Europol and Eurojust.

The group took the initiative to create a social media group to share knowledge.