US Spies Falling Behind in Utilizing Data Hiding in Plain Sight

As alarms began to go off globally about a novel coronavirus spreading in China, officials in Washington turned to the intelligence agencies for insights about the threat the virus posed to America.

But the most useful early warnings came not from spies or intercepts, according to a recent congressional review of classified reports from December 2019 and January 2020. Officials were instead relying on public reporting, diplomatic cables and analysis from medical experts — some examples of so-called open source intelligence, or OSINT.

What Is Data Hiding in Plain Sight?

You're probably familiar with the concept of data hiding in plain sight. It's the idea that sensitive or confidential information is often hidden in places where it appears innocuous or insignificant.

For example, a piece of information might be encoded in a picture or a text document that looks like gibberish to anyone who doesn't know how to decode it. By disguising sensitive data as something else, it becomes harder for outsiders to find and exploit it.

This is an important concept for spies and intelligence agencies to understand, as it allows them to conceal valuable information in plain sight. However, recent reports suggest that the United States is falling behind its rivals in terms of utilizing this strategy.

Why Is the US Falling Behind in Utilizing This Data?

The problem for the US is that its spies are falling behind their rivals in Europe and Asia in seizing on data hiding in plain sight. "We used to be the best at this," said one American intelligence official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a still-classified operation. "Now we're struggling to keep up."

So why has the US lost its edge? One reason is that European and Asian intelligence agencies have been more aggressive in recent years in recruiting talented mathematicians and computer scientists, while the US National Security Agency (NSA) and other agencies have been hampered by leaks of classified information and a bad public image.

But the real issue, say experts, is that American spy agencies have been slow to adapt to the way the internet has changed how data is stored and accessed. They have focused on collecting communications data — such as emails and phone calls — rather than data that is hidden in plain sight, such as Google search results and Facebook posts.

Who Else Is Harnessing the Power of This Data?

The US is falling behind its rivals in the race to weaponize data hidden in plain sight.

China, Russia and other global powers have been quick to capitalize on the potential of this data, using it to gain a strategic edge on their enemies. But the US has been slow to react, hampered by infighting and a lack of coordination between different intelligence agencies.

This has caused the US to fall behind in the field of big data analysis, which is essential for unlocking the value of this hidden data. As a result, the US is at risk of being left behind in the increasingly competitive world of espionage.

What Challenges Does Gathering This Data Pose?

The challenges associated with gathering this data are multi-faceted and complex. One of the biggest challenges is staying on top of the ever-evolving technology that enables the hiding of data in plain sight. In other words, staying ahead of the game, so to speak.

Another major challenge is the need to invest in more sophisticated tools, techniques, and processes that are specifically designed for identifying and extracting these types of hidden data sources. Without this investment, US spies may find themselves falling behind their rivals in terms of gathering information from data hiding in plain sight.

Finally, there's also the challenge of privacy concerns when it comes to collecting this kind of information. All too often, agencies are walking a tightrope between protecting people's privacy and using data to gain insight into potential threats. Finding ways to maintain the balance between these two can be difficult and requires strong oversight from both government agencies and private entities alike.

What Methods Are Used for Gathering This Data?

In the modern era of intelligence gathering, data hiding in plain sight is becoming increasingly commonplace. U.S. spies and other intelligence agencies are using a variety of methods to collect and analyze the data.

Social media is one of the most popular tools for collecting data, as platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others provide a wealth of information about its users—from their social connections to their interests, hobbies and political views. Surveillance systems such as “StingRays” are also used by intelligence agencies to locate and track individuals.

Data collected from these sources can then be used to track the movement and activities of people, identify suspicious behavior or uncover hidden connections between individuals and organizations. Additionally, the data can be used to identify potential targets for recruitment or create digital dossiers on individuals.

How Can the US Stay Ahead of Its Rivals in Using This Data?

In order to stay ahead of its rivals, the US must become proficient in utilizing data hiding in plain sight. This means that spies must not only learn to identify the sources of data hiding in plain sight, but also how to effectively analyze and exploit that data.

A first step in doing this would be for the US intelligence community to invest in developing modern analytic tools and developing talent that is capable of using such tools. Modern analytics tools such as machine learning and artificial intelligence can help make sense of vast quantities of data and can allow analysts to uncover previously hidden patterns or trends.

The US should also look at how foreign intelligence services are using publically available data sources and develop strategies to better utilize such sources. Finally, the intelligence community should explore partnerships with private companies which specialize in collecting and analyzing publically available information. Doing so could prove invaluable when it comes to staying ahead of rivals who are already taking advantage of this type of data.

Conclusion

According to experts, the US is losing its edge in the world of data espionage as other countries make better use of data that is hiding in plain sight. Experts say that the US has fallen behind in the use of big data, social media, and other sources of information that are available to the general public.

This lack of use of publicly available data may be due to the fact that the US has been traditionally more focused on the use of classified information. As other countries make better use of publicly available data, the US may find itself at a disadvantage in the world of espionage.