Bellingcat

Bellingcat, 6 months ago to random

We're aware of another fake video circulating made to look like a BBC report containing falsified Bellingcat research. It claims that Zelensky's former adviser Oleksiy Arestovych has spent over $500k on private flights. Bellingcat hasn't released any investigation on this topic.

A screenshot from the video showing false information.

Bellingcat, 3 months ago to random

Today marks two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It has meant two years of violence and destruction for the Ukrainian people, which we have documented through open sources 🧵

Bellingcat, 9 months ago to random

For the last two summers, some of Europe’s most notorious neo-Nazi networks met for a recreational retreat, with concerts, combat fighting and hot tubs, at undisclosed resorts in the Finnish wilderness. Teemu Nieminen and @ColborneMichael found the location. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/08/31/saunas-and-swastikas-finlands-summertime-neo-nazi-meet-up/?utm_source=mstdn

Bellingcat, 1 year ago to random

When trying to geolocate an image, knowing where to start looking can be hard. Bellingcat has developed a new tool to make that easier, enabling you to narrow down your search area based on objects or structures identified in an image. https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2023/05/08/finding-geolocation-leads-with-bellingcats-openstreetmap-search-tool/

Bellingcat, 2 months ago to random

A video with the provocative title: ‘Want to know where Ammon Bundy is?’ provided just enough clues for Michael Lee (a member of our Discord community) to locate the anti-government US militant, who has been in hiding since a warrant was issued for his arrest. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/03/27/fugitive-us-militant-ammon-bundy-geolocated-to-utah/?utm_source=mstdn

Bellingcat, 9 months ago to random

An American Neo-Nazi boasted of serving alongside military units in Ukraine. A former Trump advisor then claimed it was the “Biggest Nazi Scandal in US History”. But open source evidence places the Neo-Nazi in Florida, when he claimed to be in Ukraine. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/09/13/us-neo-nazi-says-he-fought-in-ukraine-records-place-him-in-florida/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 8 months ago to random

4chan users are sharing ways to exploit the AI-powered Bing Image Creator to create hateful content. Posts of antisemitic caricatures of Orthodox men carrying migrants across the US border, preparing to eat a baby, and committing the 9/11 attacks have appeared online. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/10/06/the-folly-of-dall-e-how-4chan-is-abusing-bings-new-image-model/?utm_source=mstdn

Bellingcat, 7 months ago to random

We've written up a short guide on how to navigate social media at a time rife with misinformation. Read our tips here: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2023/10/26/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-social-media-in-times-of-conflict/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 9 months ago to random

Russia’s operation to smuggle grain from occupied Ukraine is evolving. A new investigation by Bellingcat @scrippsnews & Lloyds List has tracked ships taking grain from Crimea direct to Iran. Grain exports have also begun from other occupied ports https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/08/21/russias-ghost-ships-and-the-evolution-of-a-grain-smuggling-operation/?utm_source=msdtn

Bellingcat, 8 months ago to random

Overwhelmed by news from Gaza? At Bellingcat we've written guides about dealing with traumatic imagery. The first is How to Prevent, Identify and Address Vicarious Trauma — While Conducting Open Source Investigations in the Middle East by Hannah Ellis https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2018/10/18/prevent-identify-address-vicarious-trauma-conducting-open-source-investigations-middle-east/

Bellingcat, 6 months ago to random

NEW: Kolina Koltai identifies a trend of footage and images from Syria’s civil war being recycled and misattributed to the current Israel-Hamas conflict. We found deniers of chemical weapon attacks in Syria sharing false claims about Israel and Gaza. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/12/08/images-of-syrian-civil-war-take-on-a-second-life-in-gaza-conflict/?utm_source=mstdn

Bellingcat, 7 months ago to random

As speculation continues around the attack on Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza, Bellingcat researchers have been analysing footage from the explosion. We’ve identified a possible impact site, a crater visible from several angles. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/10/18/identifying-possible-crater-from-gaza-hospital-blast/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 3 months ago to random

With journalist Younis Tirawi, Bellingcat have found IDF soldiers' social accounts that raise concerns about the treatment of detainees. We found content showing men blindfolded and bound, draped in flags and soldiers appearing to throw US money at those being held. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/03/05/social-media-posts-show-off-blindfolded-and-bound-palestinian-detainees/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 7 months ago to random

The UK introduced stricter sanctions on trade with Russia in September 2022, but Bellingcat’s new financial team can reveal that UK Limited Partnerships have acted as intermediaries for over 17,000 imports into Russia between 24 February 2022 and 31 March 2023. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/11/03/frontline-facilitators-how-secretive-uk-partnerships-supply-wartime-russia/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 6 months ago to random

In her latest research, Kolina Koltai delves deep into the dirty side of AI, exposing an AI Porn company’s tool that’s being used to generate nonconsensual deepfake pornography and alleged CSAM. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/11/27/anydream-secretive-ai-platform-broke-stripe-rules-to-rake-in-money-from-nonconsensual-pornographic-deepfakes/?utm_source=mstdn

Bellingcat, 6 months ago to random

Bellingcat contributor Ollie Ballinger developed a tool to estimate damage in Ukraine. He has now repurposed the tool to estimate the number of damaged buildings and the likely affected population in a given area within the Gaza Strip. https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/11/15/a-new-tool-allows-researchers-to-track-damage-in-gaza/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 1 year ago to random

New: Bellingcat has been given access to over 140 satellite images showing activity at a Crimean shipping terminal that some reports have claimed has been enabling the transportation of stolen Ukrainian grain by Russia. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/05/11/grain-trail-tracking-russias-ghost-ships-with-satellite-imagery/

Bellingcat, 7 months ago to random

A strike on Jabalia Refugee Camp north of Gaza City killed dozens on Tuesday, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued advancing into the Gaza Strip https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/10/31/confirming-a-strike-on-jabalia-refugee-camp-as-israeli-forces-approach-gaza-city/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 2 months ago to random

Using imagery from the aftermath, Bellingcat geolocates overnight strikes, by Israeli forces, on The World Central Kitchen vehicles to the outskirts of Deir al-Balah. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04/02/strike-that-killed-world-central-kitchen-workers-bears-hallmarks-of-israeli-precision-strike/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 5 months ago to random

19th!❄️ Today we wanted to reshare our short guide to navigating social media in times of conflict. From checking the source to understanding the importance of chronolocation, there are some quick tips to follow to help you avoid sharing misinformation: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2023/10/26/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-social-media-in-times-of-conflict/

Bellingcat, 8 months ago to random

As the situation escalates in Israel-Palestine, misinformation is rife. It can be difficult to decipher what is really happening and what is not. Our team has gathered examples of misrepresented footage and imagery from the latest conflict, helping you tell fact from fiction https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/10/11/hamas-attacks-israel-bombs-gaza-and-misinformation-surges-online/?utm_source=mastodon

Bellingcat, 10 months ago to random

This month marks 9 years of Bellingcat. Over the years the team has uncovered international crimes and built tools to empower others. We’ve seen the adoption of open-source research skill sets in major newsrooms around the world. Here are some of our team’s proudest moments…

Bellingcat, 1 month ago to random

New: Bellingcat and @scrippsnews followed one IDF battalion’s movements across Gaza, geolocating their social posts to highlight IDF involvement in systematic destruction of Palestinian land and livelihoods: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04/29/weve-become-addicted-to-explosions-the-idf-unit-responsible-for-demolishing-homes-across-gaza/?utm_source=mstdn

Bellingcat, 4 months ago to random

This far-right group is literally rocking the boat. Here's how Bellingcat's @ColborneMichael used photos from sailing trips and fighting conventions to identify three prominent members of a Dutch right-wing extremist group. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/02/07/how-a-sailboat-exposed-a-dutch-cell-of-the-white-supremacist-active-club-movement/?utm_source=mstdn

Bellingcat, 1 month ago to random

In recent years the profile and credibility of open source research has grown. It seems everybody’s doing it – but not necessarily well. Learning to recognise these common mistakes will allow you to judge the quality of open source research: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2024/04/25/oshit-seven-deadly-sins-of-bad-open-source-research/?utm_source=mstdn