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In the latest episode of Integrity Insights, we are joined by Nico Dekens, a recognized authority in the world of open-source intelligence (OSINT). With over 30 years of experience in the field, Nico shares his insights into the evolving OSINT landscape, the tools and techniques he uses, and the ethical considerations of this critical field. Nico spent over two decades with the Dutch police, working on intelligence and human operations, before transitioning to the private sector where he now leads engineering efforts at Shadow Dragon.
We dive into how OSINT has changed over the years, with new technologies such as AI revolutionizing the process, but also the complexities of using these tools responsibly. Nico shares practical advice on how to start an OSINT investigation, how AI and machine learning are reshaping the future of intelligence, and how to stay up to date in a fast-evolving field. He also gives us a glimpse into his work on high-profile cases, where he uses his investigative skills to piece together puzzles from seemingly limited data.

Filip Brokes is joined by Berlin Risk Advisor’s Managing Director Jennifer Hanley-Giersch to review the biggest AML/CFT developments of 2025. They discuss why the year marked a shift from incremental updates to structural change, driven by AMLA’s launch, preparation for the EU Single Rulebook, tougher sanctions expectations, and a renewed focus on terrorist financing.

Key takeaway: 2025 accelerated the move toward centralised supervision, higher data expectations, and closer links between AML, sanctions, crypto, and cyber resilience.

Filip Brokes is joined by Professor Niels Appermont, a professor of economic law at Hasselt University in Belgium, and an expert in sports law. Neils discusses his research into money laundering in football, with a particular focus on Belgium’s fight against corruption and the broader challenges of enforcing anti-money laundering (AML) regulations in the sport.

Niels shares insights into the Operation Zero scandal, a 2018 Belgian investigation that exposed widespread corruption, money laundering, and match-fixing in professional football. The investigation led to reforms in Belgium’s legal framework, including the introduction of AML regulations for football clubs.

In this episode of Integrity Insights, Filip is joined by Michael Hornsby and Elisabetta Marinoni, researchers working with Transparency International and the Anti-Corruption Data Collective (ACDC), to discuss their new study: the Opacity in Real Estate Ownership (OREO) Index.
The conversation explores how opaque real estate ownership structures enable corruption and money laundering, why data and legal frameworks both matter, and what their assessment of 24 jurisdictions reveals about global weaknesses in this sector.