If you’re anything like I was when I was younger, watching detective movies—the word “intelligence” probably conjured images of shadowy figures in trench coats, lurking in the background and gathering clues. But the world has changed dramatically, and with it, the old stereotype of “intelligence” has evolved too.
My experience at Resolver didn’t feature rooftop chases or dark, rainy nights straight out of a film. Yet in many ways, the stakes were just as high.
Resolver is an intelligence partner that supports tech platforms to proactively identify emerging online threats from bad actors before they can cause serious harm. In an age where a single piece of content can trigger exploitation, especially children, platforms need eyes and ears tuned to find risk in the noise. That’s where Resolver comes in, and for fourteen weeks, that’s where I came in too.
Day-to-day life at Resolver
I started each morning around 9 a.m. with a call from my mentor, a member of the Resolver human intelligence team. These calls were a mix of warm greetings (“How’s your morning been?”) and quick transitions into the serious work of the day. My mentor was efficient yet approachable—exactly the kind of person you’d want guiding you through the sometimes-challenging world of intelligence analysis.
A typical workday revolved around understanding what was happening in the world at that moment. This meant scanning the internet for news and social media discussions or trends from the past week in key countries facing ongoing issues. Once I gathered the relevant information, I would turn it into an intelligence report, a concise, sharp document that stripped away unnecessary detail and focused solely on the facts, potential risks (both online and physical-world), and their implications for individuals, groups, and any affected platforms.
If academic essays are like five-course dinners, intelligence reports are like espresso shots: short, strong, and designed to deliver maximum impact in minimal time.
Day 1: Protection first
Taking it all the way back to the start of the internship, protection was key. Before diving into research, the first lesson at Resolver was about safeguarding ourselves, our partners, and the integrity of our work. OSINT was one of the many tools and approaches I used during my internship.
With the right training and guidance, I was able to use this correctly, ensuring I didn’t pose a threat to myself or others. It’s powerful and effective, but it comes with risks.
Regional research and vertical risks
Things then started to step up a level. I was assigned four countries and tasked with conducting regional research into different types of online safety risks. The work involved scanning the latest two weeks of intelligence from these regions, identifying significant details, summarising them, and assessing the associated risks.
The reports didn’t just list emerging news and information, they analysed what these developments could mean for partners operating in or connected to these regions, or the online users living there. Could this spark online backlash? Would it increase the likelihood of future attacks or dangerous trends? Could it lead to physical-world harm? Every piece of information was filtered through that lens to give my colleagues and our partners the best footing possible.
The rhythm of research
The following days followed a similar pattern: research, refine, report. The difference was that I was getting faster and sharper each time. I was learning not only how to find information, but also how to assess its credibility, relevance, and potential impact. One of the challenges was dealing with an overwhelming amount of information.
The online ecosystem is full of signals coming from all directions. The real skill wasn’t just knowing where to look, it was knowing when to stop. Too much information can be just as unhelpful as too little.
The art of writing for intelligence
If there was one skill that underpinned everything at Resolver, it was precision writing. In an era where attention spans are shrinking and executives need answers in seconds, every word counts.
I had to strip away any instinct to write like an academic, no long literature reviews, no complex theoretical frameworks, just actionable intelligence. While academic work often rewards length and perceived depth, intelligent writing prioritises facts, context, and recommendations in the fastest, clearest way possible, so the reader can make the right decision in the moment.
For example: Academic style: “The socio-political climate in Sudan remains tenuous, with ongoing conflict between multiple factions creating instability and posing potential threats to regional security.”
Resolver style: “Conflict in Sudan is escalating. The risk of extremist online recruitment in the region is increasing.”
Short. Sharp. Impactful.
At first, this wasn’t something that came naturally to me. After four years at university, I was used to writing in depth and analysing every angle in detail. Switching to a style that was short, snappy, and focused only on the most relevant information, with absolutely no fluff, was a challenge.
Over time, I got the hang of it and began to see how valuable it is to get straight to the point. The continuous feedback on each report was key to this. It gave me clear direction on what to improve and the opportunity to build on what I had learned for the next task.
More than just searching the news
On the surface, my work might sound like just “reading the news,” but it was far more than that. Every source, piece of online content, or official statement had to be weighed for credibility, cross-referenced with other sources, and assessed for its potential ripple effects.
It’s like being a lifeguard at a busy beach. Most of the time, the waves are harmless, but you’re constantly scanning for that one sign of trouble that could change everything.
Why this work is critical
Resolver works quietly in the background. When it does its job well, most people never even know it happened. Minors are protected from exploitation, an attack is stopped before it starts, and everything keeps running as normal. That’s the goal: to prevent harm before it materialises.
What stood out to me was how this work combines people and technology. Computers can collect vast amounts of data and spot patterns, but it still takes a person to understand the details, connect the dots, and figure out what might happen next.
Reflections on my time at Resolver
My internship at Resolver taught me far more than just how to conduct OSINT or write concise reports. They showed me the value of:
- Critical Thinking: Never taking a source at face value, always verifying information, especially with the rise of AI-generated images.
- Digital Hygiene: Protecting yourself online is essential to ensuring safety across all aspects of the work, including yourself, your colleagues, your company, and the people or organisations you serve.
- Adaptability: Quickly switching between regions, topics, and threat categories depending on what was in the news or circulating on social media that week.
When I think about my time at Resolver, I don’t just remember a series of tasks. I remember moments of challenge, moments of learning, and moments when I realised the significance of the work I was doing. Somewhere, a piece of analysis I contributed to might have informed a decision that prevented real harm. That’s a powerful feeling.
Intelligence work isn’t glamorous. It’s not about chasing suspects through dark streets or solving cases in dramatic fashion. It’s about patience, attention to detail, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped create change for the better. That’s what made my time at Resolver so rewarding.
By the end of each working day, I had learned that even my smallest contributions played a part in the much bigger goal of safeguarding online users from harm, and platforms from exploitation.
