ASSESSING CROWDSOURCED OSINT: THE EFFECTIVENESS AND OBJECTIVITY OF X’S COMMUNITY NOTES AGAINST DISINFORMATION

The use of crowdsourced open-source intelligence (OSINT) may be valuable in countering the rapid spread of disinformation campaigns. This study examines the effectiveness of X’s Community Notes using a mixed-methods approach to assess how quickly disinformation is detected and whether corrections are influenced by bias or grounded in truth-seeking. Automated OSINT tools were used to collect Community Notes, followed by tonal analysis to detect bias. Findings show that most disinformation was identified within 24 hours, suggesting crowdsourced OSINT enables timely responses. However, about one-third of Community Notes showed negative tonal bias, raising concerns about impartiality. While the results highlight the potential of crowdsourced OSINT for rapid fact-checking, they also reveal limitations in neutrality and accessibility. The study concludes by calling for improved methods and institutional guidance to increase the reliability of crowdsourced OSINT in fighting disinformation.