Sektion IIIb and the Early Development of OSINT

The methodical use of open-source information for intelligence purposes is often viewed as a modern development, particularly associated with World War II and the rise of broadcast monitoring. However, as Block (2024) demonstrates, the roots of OSINT go much further back. Early examples from the American Civil War show that both sides were already exploiting publicly available information, especially newspapers, to gain operational and strategic insights. More importantly, the German military intelligence unit Sektion IIIb represents a more structured and institutionalized evolution of these practices prior to and during the First World War, suggesting an early model of OSINT that closely resembles its modern use.
Sektion IIIb was established in peacetime in 1889, reflecting an understanding of the need for continuous information collection on countries of interest even outside of war. Of its four collection methods, “Zeitungsrecherche,” or the systematic exploitation of foreign newspapers, stands out as particularly similar to many current OSINT efforts around the world. The deliberate method of acquiring French local and regional newspapers through Switzerland shows clear planning, rather than an opportunistic practice or casual reading. Another noteworthy aspect of Sektion IIIb’s work is the separation of collection and analysis, along with the categorization of intelligence into economic, political, and military areas, with collection efforts directed by specific intelligence requirements. These outputs were later used to support German war planning (Block 2024).
These early efforts also show that OSINT was already strategic, predictive, and foundational, and was used to support planning, assess capabilities and intentions, and inform core decision-making.
Today’s OSINT efforts remain central and continue to be strategic and systematic. Similar to the cases highlighted by Block, there is a clear understanding that democracies and open societies tend to generate and share exploitable information, whether through traditional media or modern platforms like social media. This also explains why OSINT is no longer limited to state actors, but is widely used by private firms and analysts to support forecasting, risk assessment, and strategic planning (Hassan and Hijazi 2018). The American Civil War may represent the early discovery of OSINT’s potential, but cases like Sektion IIIb show its transition into a more organized and professional practice.
More broadly, Sektion IIIb’s practices suggest that the purpose of OSINT within the intelligence community has remained fairly consistent over time. Its historical use highlights its enduring value in understanding adversaries, identifying patterns, and supporting strategic decision-making, a role that continues today in the digital age.

References:

Block, Ludo. 2024. “The Long History of OSINT.” Journal of Intelligence History 23 (2): 95–109.

Hassan, Nihad A., and Rami Hijazi. 2018. Open Source Intelligence Methods and Tools: A Practical Guide to Online Intelligence. New York: Apress.