Keynote | Intelligence from Open Sources: The Power of Data in Personal Background Checks

On April 9, 2026, our CEO Stephanie Böhm. delivered a keynote at the DataXcellence Konferenz 2026, held at the Park Hyatt Vienna - one of the leading gatherings for data, AI, and governance experts in the DACH region.

The conference brought together over 300 professionals and more than 40 speakers to explore how organizations can unlock the full potential of data and artificial intelligence in a responsible and value-driven way.

In his keynote, titled “Intelligence from Open Sources: The Power of Data in Personal Background Checks”, Stephanie Böhm explored how Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is reshaping the way organizations assess trust, risk, and responsibility. She highlighted both the opportunities and the critical challenges - from navigating legal and ethical boundaries to avoiding cognitive biases and flawed automated assessments.

A key message: Data is powerful - but only when handled with context, critical thinking, and accountability.

As OSINT becomes an increasingly relevant tool in HR, security, and compliance, the responsibility to use it correctly grows just as fast. The keynote emphasized the importance of awareness, governance, and human judgment in a world of ever-expanding data availability.