The monetization of OSINT tools and the transformation of social media platforms into walled gardens doesn't hinder malicious actors. Criminals generally rely on leaked data breaches and stolen source code. They aren't relying on front-end web scraping. These restrictions only lock out those trying to use OSINT for the greater good.
"We're doing this for safety" is nothing more than security theater.
I recently signed up for Trace Labs, and as an OSINT newcomer, I didn't expect to hit such an immediate, frustrating wall. For obvious opsec reasons, crowdsourced search parties discourage using your real-world identity. Yet today, standard investigative tools are locked behind invasive account creation and identity verification processes.
To make matters worse, Meta previously banned my device fingerprints simply for sharing HackTheBox content, accusing me of being a "malicious hacker" and requesting I provide them a government issued ID for "security reasons." This blatant overreach has severely limited my ability to build the research accounts needed to actively participate in these labs. Furthermore, major platforms and target web pages now aggressively block traffic from TOR and VPNs. Again, how does this stop threat actors who already have dark web access? It only hinders those trying to play by the rules.
The clamp down on open data extends everywhere, from restricted satellite imagery to locked-down public directories. When tech giants claim they are locking down data for "user safety," it is a convenient PR shield to protect corporate profits and liability. They don't care about your data. If they did, they wouldn't demand your government ID, force you to fork over a phone number, or quietly profit off your digital footprint while leaving you exposed.
They scraped our data, monetized it, and now claim to protect us. The only real solution left is collective digital self-defense: we must fight to remain anonymous and treat the web exactly as it is–a hostile environment. There is no world where these corporations can protect your information from real criminals. Those actors don't play by these rules, and an identity check means nothing to someone holding a stolen database.
https://cybernews.com/security/facebook-leak-exposes-users-hackers-claim/
#osint #opensource #surveillancecapitalism #dataprivacy #anonymous
