1. References.
See references enclosed.
2. Purpose.
This directive establishes policy for the use of all sources of publicly available information (PAI) while conducting Army intelligence activities pursuant to Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 3115.18.
Additionally, this policy defines PAI research and collection, and details related command responsibilities.
3. Applicability.
This directive applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army Reserve.
It also applies to anyone employed by, assigned to, or acting for Army intelligence elements when conducting intelligence activities under Secretary of the Army authorities.
4. Background.
Pursuant to DoD Directive 3115.18, DoD may access, obtain, and use PAI to plan, inform, enable, execute, and support the full spectrum of DoD missions.
Responsible use of PAI provides critical information to commanders and directly contributes to the Army’s mission.
5. Policy.
Where this directive conflicts with any other existing Army policy or guidance, this directive is controlling.
For the purposes of this directive, “military intelligence (MI) personnel” is synonymous with “Army Intelligence element employee” as defined in Army Regulation (AR) 381–10.
a.
All Army intelligence elements and MI personnel may use PAI research or collection in support of authorized intelligence missions.
(1) PAI Research
PAI research is the identification and review of data, facts, instructions, or other material that is publicly available and used for general knowledge about a specific person, group, location, or other item of interest.
MI personnel conduct PAI research when they view or access PAI but have not yet copied, saved, supplemented, or used it in some manner.
(2) PAI Collection
PAI collection is the copying, saving, supplementing, or use of data, facts, information, or other material that is publicly available and used for general knowledge about a specific person, group, location, or other item of interest.
PAI collection will be conducted in accordance with DoD Manual 5240.01 and AR 381–10.
(3)
PAI research and collection are authorized for sources or websites that require Managed Attribution (MA) Tier 0, as defined in the Defense Intelligence Enterprise Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Lexicon.
(4)
Only trained and authorized MI personnel will conduct OSINT collection tasks and reporting.
b.
If MI personnel are unable to fulfill an information requirement via PAI research or collection, they should forward a request for support or information to the supporting OSINT element.
6. Roles and Responsibilities.
a. The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2 will—
(1)
Provide implementing guidance for this policy and the use of PAI for intelligence activities to Army intelligence elements.
(2)
Ensure PAI data access, sharing, and auditing by Army intelligence elements is executed in accordance with:
- DoD Instruction 8170.01
- DoD Instruction 8320.02
- DoD Instruction 8320.07
- DoD Directive 5114.02
- DoD Manual 5240.01
- AR 25–1
- AR 25–2
- AR 380–5
- AR 381–10
b. The Commanding General, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) will—
(1)
Maintain and disseminate a list of Tier 0 sources of PAI.
(2)
Enable access to sources or websites that require MA Tier 1 where organizations plan and execute required training, auditing, and oversight for MA Tier 1 capabilities, and provide funding to INSCOM for the MA Tier 1 capability.
c.
The commanders of Army commands, Army service component commands, and direct reporting units, as well as unit commanders in the grade of O-6 or higher, G-2s in the grade of O-6 or higher, and directors and activity chiefs of intelligence elements in the grade of GG/GS-15 or higher, will—
(1)
Document a plan and procedures for PAI research and collection by MI personnel.
To ensure compliance with:
- DoD Directive 5240.01
- DoD Manual 5240.01
- AR 25–22
- AR 381–10
- AR 530–1
- Army Technical Publication 5-19
as applicable, incorporate a checklist into the organizational inspection program (OIP) in accordance with AR 1–201.
(2)
Ensure PAI research and collection for intelligence activities is conducted via the Non-classified Internet Protocol Router (NIPR) Network on the DoD Information Network or other DoD-provided network in accordance with the risk-management framework prescribed in DoD Instruction 8510.01.
(3)
Ensure PAI research or collection for intelligence activities is limited to authorized sources or websites as discussed in paragraphs 5a(3), 6b(1) and 6b(2) of this directive.
(4)
Certify to the Commanding General, INSCOM that MA Tier 1 capability is required to support the unit’s mission; comply with all required MA Tier 1 training, use, auditing, and oversight specified by INSCOM; and provide to INSCOM the requisite funding for the MA Tier 1 capability.
(5)
As relevant policies continue to evolve, ensure intelligence elements and personnel are familiar with all applicable policies related to commercially available information, or emerging sources of PAI, while conducting PAI activities.
7. Proponent.
The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2 is the proponent for this policy, responsible for incorporating its provisions into:
- AR 381–10
- AR 381–20
- AR 381–47
- AR 381–100
- AR 525–95
within 2 years of the date of this directive.
8. Duration.
This directive is rescinded on publication of the revised regulations.
DISTRIBUTION:
- Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army
- Commander
- U.S. Army Forces Command
- U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
- U.S. Army Materiel Command
- U.S. Army Futures Command
- U.S. Army Pacific
- U.S. Army Europe and Africa
- U.S. Army Central (CONT)
DISTRIBUTION: (CONT)
- U.S. Army North
- U.S. Army South
- U.S. Army Special Operations Command
- Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
- U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
- U.S. Army Cyber Command
- U.S. Army Medical Command
- U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Army Military District of Washington
- U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
- U.S. Army Human Resources Command
- U.S. Army Corrections Command
- U.S. Army Recruiting Command
- Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy
- Commandant, U.S. Army War College
- Director, U.S. Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
- Executive Director, Military Postal Service Agency
- Director, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division
- Director, U.S. Army Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office
- Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
- Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
CF:
- Principal Cyber Advisor
- Commander, Eighth Army
REFERENCES
Enclosure
a.
Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 3115.18 (DoD Access to and Use of Publicly Available Information (PAI)), 11 June 2019, incorporating Change 1, effective 20 August 2020
b.
DoD Directive 5144.02 (DoD Chief Information Officer (DoD CIO)), 21 November 2014, incorporating Change 1, effective 19 September 2017
c.
DoD Directive 5240.01 (DoD Intelligence and Intelligence-Related Activities and Defense Intelligence Component Assistance to Law Enforcement Agencies and Other Civil Authorities), 27 September 2024
d.
DoD Instruction 8170.01 (Online Information Management and Electronic Messaging), 2 January 2019, incorporating Change 2, effective 12 March 2025
e.
DoD Instruction 8320.02 (Sharing Data, Information, and Information Technology (IT) Services in the Department of Defense), 5 August 2013, incorporating Change 1, effective 24 June 2020
f.
DoD Instruction 8320.07 (Implementing the Sharing of Data, Information, and Information Technology (IT) Services in the Department of Defense), 3 August 2015, incorporating Change 1, effective 5 December 2017
g.
DoD Instruction 8510.01 (Risk Management Framework for DoD Systems), 19 July 2022
h.
DoD Manual 5240.01 (Procedures Governing the Conduct of DoD Intelligence Activities), 8 August 2016
i.
Defense Intelligence Agency (Defense Intelligence Enterprise Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Lexicon), July 2022
Available at:
j.
Army Regulation (AR) 1–201 (Army Inspection Policy), 1 November 2023
k.
AR 25–1 (Army Information Technology), 15 July 2019
l.
AR 25–2 (Army Cybersecurity), 4 April 2019
m.
AR 25–22 (The Army Privacy and Civil Liberties Program), 30 September 2022
n.
AR 380–5 (Army Information Security Program), 25 March 2022
o.
AR 381–10 (The Conduct and Oversight of U.S. Army Intelligence Activities), 27 January 2023
p.
AR 381–20 (The Army Counterintelligence Program), 9 June 2022
q.
AR 381–47 (Offensive Counterintelligence Operations), 27 September 2022
r.
AR 381–100 (The Army Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Collection Program), 27 August 2020
s.
AR 525–95 (Army Geospatial-Intelligence and Geospatial Information and Services), 26 July 2022
t.
AR 530–1 (Operations Security), 26 September 2014
u.
Army Technical Publication 5-19 (Risk Management), 9 November 2021