Slovakia Enhances Anti-Money Laundering Efforts with Open-Source Intelligence Training

Bratislava, Slovakia - A New Approach to Fighting Financial Crimes

In a bid to strengthen its anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) system, the Slovak authorities have just concluded a three-day training course on “Using Open-Source Intelligence against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing”. The training was organized by the Council of Europe in response to a specific request from the Slovak authorities.

The Training Program

The event brought together 24 national practitioners dealing with financial intelligence, investigation, and prosecution of proceeds-generating crimes from various Slovak agencies. The participants learned about the practical application of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in conducting investigations in a forensically sound manner, allowing electronic evidence gathered by the process to be used in Courts of Law.

What is Open-Source Intelligence?

According to experts, OSINT can help investigators gather useful information from multiple national and international sources at relatively low cost, build a more complete picture of suspects and their activities, identify red flags to detect financial crimes, and provide valuable insights into the operations of international companies. However, specific knowledge and skills are required to conduct productive open-source investigations.

Interactive Training Approach

The training approach used was interactive, with dynamic lectures and real exercises that allowed participants to “learn by doing”. The hands-on training enabled them to immediately apply the technical advice provided, facilitating a concrete improvement of their processes and use of OSINT in their daily work.

Impact on Investigations and Prosecutions

By reflecting on the application of these OSINT techniques in their national framework, participants could determine where specific weaknesses in their systems may exist. The exercises showed them an unsuspected number of tools available to cyber criminals and money launderers, as well as techniques for authorities to search and use them in an investigative context.

Feedback from Participants

The training activity was implemented within the framework of the joint TSI Project on “Enhancing the effectiveness of the AML Framework in Slovakia” funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The feedback from participants was very positive, with some describing it as “eye-opening” and “one of the most useful training events attended”.

Conclusion

The majority of them indicated that it would impact their way of conducting investigations and prosecutions using open-source intelligence in the immediate and near future. This confirmed the growing need for supporting a professionalisation of the conduction of open-source investigations and the use of OSINT by Law enforcement, considering its complex implications in terms of security, effectiveness as well as legal and human rights issues.