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  What can AI actually do for investigative research? Our Stage Talk with journalist Craig Silverman is out now. Craig shares how he uses AI in investigations, what it can uncover, and the risks researchers need to watch for. Search 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on your favourite podcast platform: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/3202578/

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  New Bellingcat challenges are up on the website. This month, Bellingcat’s investigative technologist Miguel Ramalho has designed some puzzles that test your online archiving skills, taking you deeper into the internet of the past. https://challenge.bellingcat.com/?utm_source=mstdn To keep up with the challenges, subscribe to our newsletter! Want to get featured? Make sure to tag us when you share your solutions to last month’s challenges in a blog, video or social post! Sign up here: https://b...

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  How do you know which open source tools to use? On Thursday, Toolkit Guardians Anisa Shabir and Martin Sona join us to talk about Bellingcat’s Toolkit. We'll discuss tool selection, testing, and keeping investigative guidance accurate and impartial. Live here on Thursday: https://discord.gg/bellingcat?event=1556740775088361605

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  Latest: Two charities associated with the world’s largest far-right Hindu group have raised more than US$24.4 million over a five-year period through US grants that allow the donor to be anonymous, Bellingcat can reveal: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/10/06/dafs-india-rss-donations/?utm_source=mastodon

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  RE: https://mstdn.social/@Bellingcat/117394287348220900 Later today were marking two years of Bellingcat’s Online Open Source Investigations Toolkit with a live talk and Q&A with the people who maintain it. We’ll explore how open source tools are selected, tested and reviewed. Join us live at 11am EST/5pm CEST here: https://discord.gg/bellingcat?event=1556740775088361605

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  How do you monitor conflicts when data isn’t regularly collected? Explore techniques for conflict analysis, with case studies and methods focused on the Sahel and Sudan. Join us on the 27th of October 2026. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/conflict-monitoring-in-data-scarce-environments-an-open-source-introduction-focused-on-africa-webinar-27-october-2026/

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  Our documentary Killing Anna will be shown to UK audiences tonight on Channel 4 at 11:05pm BST. It will then be available to stream from tomorrow onwards. The film follows a Syrian academic who, using the alias Anna, befriends a former Syrian regime official suspected of involvement in the Tadamon massacre. More details about tonight's broadcast can be found here: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/killing-anna https://youtu.be/dzcBa5BC77Q?si=N478RmEn7Np25fw7

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  How do you know which tools deserve your trust? We went behind the scenes with the people maintaining Bellingcat’s Toolkit, two years in, exploring how they find open source tools, test their capabilities and keep reviews up to date amid a changing digital landscape. https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/3228332

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  Our five day deep dive into open source investigations has just wrapped up in Amsterdam. Next, we bring this hands on training to London, where participants will develop practical investigative skills alongside Bellingcat researchers. In person, 19-23rd of October. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/october-19-23-2026-bellingcat-deep-dive-into-open-source-investigations-five-day-workshop-london-uk/

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  New satellite imagery obtained by Bellingcat reveals the full extent of tree felling on a Washington DC golf course that has been eyed for development by President Trump. 430 trees were reportedly cut down with little notice last weekend, undermining attempts to protect the site. The satellite pictures detail changes across the East Potomac Golf Links. A judge has now banned any further tree removals until later this month. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/us-canada/2026/10/15/satellite-images-sh...

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  We’re looking for an AI Engineer to build agentic systems for open-source investigations. If you’re experienced in developing AI tools, particularly for researchers and journalists, we’d like to hear from you. This is a 12-month contract. Apply by 8 November: https://www.bellingcat.com/contractor-ai-engineer-open-source-agentic-systems/

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  Bellingcat is excited to announce that the finalist shortlist for our first Audience Co-Created Merchandise Capsule is officially open for public voting. We received hundreds of incredible co-created concepts for our first merch capsule. Our team has curated the shortlist, and now it's time to choose the winners. Cast your vote on the designs you want to wear. Voting is open for exactly two weeks! https://bellingcat.questionpro.eu/o/TakeSurvey?tt=4SXgPBsLHso52Efd%2B6mc8Q%3D%3D

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  Do you have any photos in your camera roll that you expect would be difficult to geolocate? We’re looking for photo submissions for the Bellingcat December Geolocation Challenges - submit your images here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfizVLarDAH1hrGwthbdIW6CFnybKFkFRUAkAoACr5D8Vfmtw/viewform?usp=dialog Looking for inspiration, or want to practice ahead of the December challenges? Check out our previous geolocation challenges here: https://challenge.bellingcat.com/?tags=Geolocation

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  In September, the AI company Anthropic claimed its models were approaching “superhuman capabilities for geolocating outdoor photos”. Bellingcat put that claim to the test by benchmarking the performance of Anthropic and other LLMs. Here’s what we found: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/10/22/can-llms-supercharge-geolocations-our-tests-show-big-improvements-but-humans-remain-key/?utm_source=mastodon

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  We are aware of an individual using a UK number on Telegram and WhatsApp under the name “Antony Kevin” to seek assistance recruiting journalists and analysts working on Syria. They claim to work for Bellingcat, but do not. Please disregard requests from them and contact [contact@bellingcat.com].

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  We're pleased to announce that Bellingcat has won three awards at the Online Journalism Awards. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees listed here: https://awards.journalists.org/2026/10/02/congratulations-to-the-winners-of-the-2026-online-journalism-awards/ (1)

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  Viral reports this week suggested new Google satellite imagery showed unseen destruction in Gaza. But the imagery actually depicts the scene in February 2026. Bellingcat has obtained satellite images from September that show how the destruction has continued. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2026/10/01/viral-google-maps-images-shared-widely-this-week-show-gaza-ruins-we-obtained-more-recent-satellite-imagery/?utm_source=mastodon

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  How is AI changing investigations? On Thursday, investigative journalist @craigsilverman@mastodon.social will share how he’s using AI, including in his investigation of a North Korean hiring scam. We’ll explore what AI can uncover, where it falls short, and what it means for investigators. Join us live in Discord at 5pm CEST/11am EDT: https://discordapp.com/events/709752884257882135/1553048996295999599

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  Today we're celebrating the two year anniversary of Bellingcat's Online Open Source Investigation Toolkit. The resource that helps you discover and use open source tools is maintained by a group of amazing volunteers. If you've not explored it yet, you can find it here: https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit You can directly support the development of the Bellingcat Toolkit by donating here: www.bellingcat.com/donate-bellingcat-toolkit

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  Latest: Christy Kinahan, founder of the transnational organised crime group the Kinahan cartel, has had his UAE visa cancelled, Bellingcat and The Sunday Times can reveal. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/09/19/christy-kinahans-uae-residence-visa-cancelled/?utm_source=mastodon The visa was cancelled only weeks after the extradition of his eldest son Daniel Kinahan from Dubai to Ireland, where he is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation. Christy and his two sons a...

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  You don’t need to be a programmer to use code as an investigative tool. Bellingcat’s upcoming webinar will help researchers get started with the command line and AI coding assistants, using them for research, data analysis, visualisation and automation. https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/command-line-ai-assisted-coding-webinar/

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  It’s harvest season in Ukraine, but in the first two weeks of August, Ukrainian grain exports were down 75% from the same period last year. Russia’s military blockade has effectively cut off Ukrainian ports from the Black Sea.🧵

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  We wanted to have an honest conversation about our newly launched membership programme. Our latest Stage Talk explores this funding model, from sustainability to editorial independence, as we discuss both the promise and the pitfalls. Search 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on your preferred podcast provider: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/3044016/ Enjoyed listening on your favourite podcast platform? Want to support our work? You can become a Bellingcat member by following...

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  Last month we published the 100th Bellingcat Challenge. To celebrate this milestone, we're launching a brand-new website! Check it out and put your skills to the test with our five newest challenges. https://challenge.bellingcat.com/

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  A promotional image for a padel club in Dubai shows a talented player, mid-swing and eyes locked on the ball. He’s also a key figure in the Kinahan cartel, the Irish organised crime group involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and arms smuggling. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/06/27/poster-boy-sanctioned-kinahan-cartel-lieutenant-found-playing-padel-in-dubai//?utm_source=mastodon

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  Today, Bellingcat launches its formal membership program. For over a decade, our investigations have contributed to international court rulings, identified state actors behind war crimes, and documented accountability failures on American streets. This work has always been free to access. That independence depends on individual supporters. If evidence-based accountability journalism matters to you, we'd be grateful for your support. https://www.bellingcat.com/donate/?utm_source=mastodon&...

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  Extreme wildfire activity worldwide has more than doubled in the past 21 years. What tools can we use to track wildfires and report on the damage they leave behind? Find out in our latest guide: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2026/06/30/burning-forests-tools-for-tracking-and-reporting-wildfire-damage/?utm_source=mastodon

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  When digital media is leaked or manipulated, it can be difficult to trace it back to its source. Today we're exploring how forensic watermarking is being developed to improve traceability and accountability in leaked intimate imagery. Join us live at 5pm CEST / 11am EDT: https://discord.gg/a9TVpY8R6?event=1521091627039592609

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  More than 3,500 deaths are confirmed since the earthquakes in Venezuela, the UN reports that the death toll could reach 10,000. Bellingcat has geolocated footage that appears to show several coffins placed in newly dug trenches. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/07/06/between-graves-and-uncertainty-the-management-of-the-dead-after-venezuelas-earthquake/?utm_source=mastodon

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  We’re back with a brand-new open source challenge! This month they were created by a guest contributor who has manipulated a series of images. Can you spot what has been edited? Try them here: https://challenge.bellingcat.com/