Energy Espionage 5.0: Corporate Intelligence, Critical Metals, and Artificial Intelligence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65834/jdsi.12.49Keywords:
critical minerals, artificial intelligence, satellite surveillance, drone systems, corporate intelligence, OSINT, energy espionageAbstract
The strategic significance of critical minerals in the global energy transition has intensified, transforming competition among states and corporations into a geopolitical security challenge. This study examines intelligence practices and industrial espionage strategies targeting critical mineral resources. It analyses how lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements influence national security agendas and supply-chain protection policies, focusing on cyber-espionage, insider information leakage, and covert data acquisition methods. The paper evaluates the use of satellites, high-resolution drones, AI-driven mineral exploration systems, and remote-sensing technologies for resource detection and production monitoring. It further explores the capacity of multinational mining firms to shape energy diplomacy and public policy, positioning them as strategic non-state actors. Additionally, the research investigates open-source intelligence systems, AI-based commercial data platforms, and competitive intelligence tools as mechanisms for gaining informational advantage in the energy sector. Findings indicate that the convergence of digital surveillance technologies and geoeconomic rivalry has created a new security architecture, where artificial intelligence emerges as a decisive force in mineral geopolitics.
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