A new report from Open Briefing has found that as ever-more advanced drones are available to the civilian market there is an increased risk of drones being used by non-state actors against British targets. As approximately 200,000 civilian-use drones are being sold worldwide every month, the legislation currently governing the civilian use of drones is struggling to keep up with the speed at which new drones are being developed and put to novel uses.
Tag: Open Briefing
Happy holiday season
This year has been an incredibly busy 12 months for Open Briefing. We have big plans for 2016 that will help us do even more to fulfil our mission to keep those striving to make the world a better place safe and informed. But we can only achieve these things with your help. So, please consider making a donation to Open Briefing this holiday season.
New humanitarian security consultant joins Open Briefing
Open Briefing is delighted to announce that Chris Cushing has joined us as our new humanitarian security consultant. Chris has directed emergency humanitarian operations in 17 wars and two disasters. He is a former officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and has experience with foreign intelligence agencies. He is currently an associate faculty member of the Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit at the University of York.
Update on Open Briefing – it’s been a busy summer!
The Open Briefing team have had a busy summer developing work plans and budgets. We have also been completing some major projects, including an intelligence briefing on the hostile use of drones by non-state actors against British targets, and developing some exciting new initiatives for the next 12 months, including a unique new Open Briefing security division to provide risk assessments, training and security for aid workers and human rights defenders. Big things are happening at Open Briefing.
Fundraising update #2
I am delighted to let you know that we have now raised £13,070 towards our fundraising target of £14,000! It has been truly heartwarming to learn just how valued Open Briefing is. But we now have just 19 days to raise the remaining £930 and secure Open Briefing's future. So if you haven't done so already, please consider making a donation to help us continue our vital work to promote alternatives to armed conflict and protect human rights.
Fundraising update
We have raised just under £7,000 in only two weeks after we launched an urgent appeal to raise the £14,000 we need to keep the doors open at Open Briefing and implement a new fundraising programme. But we still need your support. Please consider making a donation to help us continue our work to promote alternatives to armed conflict and protect human rights.
Intelligence brief: Russia’s electronic warfare capability in Ukraine
Russian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have significant advantages over Ukrainian forces in the area of electronic warfare. Russian forces are effectively able to nullify the Ukrainian communications and GPS signals in the regions they are deployed to. The advantages the Russians are enjoying in this area are directly contributing to the losses suffered by the Ukrainian armed forces. Western supporters of Kiev might consider supplying the Ukrainians with defensive capabilities, including electronic countermeasures.
Big data and strategic intelligence
In this journal article for Intelligence and National Security, Open Briefing analyst Kevjn Lim examines the intersection of Big Data and strategic intelligence from a conceptual viewpoint. It argues that Big Data analytics is best used to discern long-term developments, generate intelligence hypotheses, and adduce refuting facts. The article also examines the use of Big Data via social media. It concludes that Big Data should continue to complement traditional subject-matter expertise, supported by game theory, as part of a tripartite analytical framework for strategic intelligence consisting of ‘subtext’, ‘context’ and ‘metatext’.
