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Bellingcat
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Bellingcat is an independent investigative collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists brought together by a passion for open source research.
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Have you tried the December Open Source challenges already? Check them out at challenge.bellingcat.com
From satellite imagery analysis to ship tracking, and from art crime research to explosives identification, we’ve covered many different skills in one year of the Bellingcat Open Source Challenge. Now it’s time to put what you’ve learnt to the test! Challenge.bellingcat.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by Bellingcat
Bellingcat’s work in 2025 verified war crimes, exposed deepfake abuse, and challenged disinformation. We want to uncover wrongdoing. We can with your support: www.bellingcat.com/donate

This is how we cut through the digital noise to tell stories that matter.
December 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Bellingcat’s work in 2025 verified war crimes, exposed deepfake abuse, and challenged disinformation. We want to uncover wrongdoing. We can with your support: www.bellingcat.com/donate

This is how we cut through the digital noise to tell stories that matter.
December 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
That perfect holiday gift might not exist. Scammers are using AI to create convincing fake products and stores. Bellingcat's @koltai.bsky.social reveals 10 real examples found online — plus quick, practical checks to help you spot what’s real before it’s too late. www.youtube.com/watch?v=txcN...
10 AI Holiday Scams Shoppers Fall For
YouTube video by Bellingcat
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:43 PM
In a new documentary with @frontlinepbs.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com and @evidentmedia.org, we investigate the impact of Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
Investigating the Impact of US-Israeli Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Programme  - bellingcat
Bellingcat, FRONTLINE (PBS), The Washington Post and Evident Media examine the impact of strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme.
www.bellingcat.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM
War doesn’t just destroy buildings—it erases places where children learn, play, and grow. Bellingcat and journalists from @afp.com bureaus in Paris and Kyiv take a look at the lost spaces of youth in Ukraine. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
How Russia’s Invasion is Impacting Ukraine’s Youth - bellingcat
Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian educational facilities and spaces used by children have been damaged in air strikes or closed because of them.
www.bellingcat.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
A joint investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List shows that Saudi Arabia is the newest country willing to accept what the Ukrainian government describes as “stolen” grain. youtube.com/shorts/5FUm6...
Who's buying Russia's smuggled grain?
YouTube video by Bellingcat
youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com and @evidentmedia.org, we investigate the aftermath of June’s US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme, with Frontline reporters on the ground, exclusive interviews and open source analysis. Watch at 10pm EST/9pm CST, on Frontline, PBS.
December 16, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Reposted by Bellingcat
New from me!
After we reached out to the owner of these deepfake porn sites, they were removed offline and he deleted his socials.

Each time a site goes down, it's a win for me. Hopefully this guy never tries to get them up and running again.

Check out our investigation!
Bellingcat’s @koltai.bsky.social uncovers the Hungarian national behind two deepfake porn websites. The key figure rakes in profits and vacations in luxury hotels in Dubai and Bali, whilst website visitors create sexually explicit images and videos.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
How We Found the Man Behind Two Deepfake Porn Sites
Business documents, website code and leaked data all led us back to one person profiting off non-consensual sexual imagery of women.
www.bellingcat.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Bellingcat’s @koltai.bsky.social uncovers the Hungarian national behind two deepfake porn websites. The key figure rakes in profits and vacations in luxury hotels in Dubai and Bali, whilst website visitors create sexually explicit images and videos.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
How We Found the Man Behind Two Deepfake Porn Sites
Business documents, website code and leaked data all led us back to one person profiting off non-consensual sexual imagery of women.
www.bellingcat.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:16 PM
On Friday, the UK sanctioned Rapid Support Forces commander Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, also known as Abu Lulu. Bellingcat previously geolocated him in three videos filmed at the site of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Sudan.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Geolocating Darfur Killings of Those Escaping Al Fashir - bellingcat
Warning: Contains written descriptions of extreme violence including murder. All graphic footage has been omitted. A Bellingcat investigation has identified and verified the exact location of a mass k...
www.bellingcat.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
In our latest Bellingchat Premium episode @msramalho.bsky.social, lead researcher on this investigation, explains how young Russian Cossacks are being drawn into frontline combat. Listen in here: www.patreon.com/posts/how-ru...
December 15, 2025 at 9:09 AM
An investigation by Bellingcat and Lloyd’s List found that Saudi Arabia joined the countries importing grain directly from a sanctioned port in occupied Crimea. Meanwhile Russia attempts to secure recognition of the Ukrainian territory via a US-led peace plan. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
Russia’s Smuggled Grain Finds New Market in Saudi Arabia - bellingcat
New grain route identified from sanctioned Crimean port that Russia is eyeing in latest peace deal.
www.bellingcat.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Bellingcat
"We have to decide globally if it is acceptable to generate AI SGBV content and share it online," @bellingcat.com's @koltai.bsky.social told HRC's @alexakoenig.bsky.social. "The harm it currently generates will only amplify if we let this go unchecked."
medium.com/@maggie.visu...
Investigating sexual and gender-based crimes online
To celebrate the publication of the Open-Source Practitioner’s Guide to the Murad Code, our Faculty Director Alexa Koenig sat down with…
medium.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Europol are running the #traceanobject campaign, asking for researchers to geolocate objects and scenery taken from larger images from active child abuse cases. Our Discord community, independent of Bellingcat, are investigating one image. Join in with that analysis here: discord.com/channels/709...
Discord - Group Chat That’s All Fun & Games
Discord is great for playing games and chilling with friends, or even building a worldwide community. Customize your own space to talk, play, and hang out.
discord.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
How do investigators turn raw trade data into real stories?
Bellingcat’s Katherine de Tolly uncovers hidden supply chains, red flags in import-export records, and key pitfalls in trade-data investigations.
Search 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on podcast platforms: rss.com/podcasts/bel...
“Digging for Gold in Import-Export Data” with Bellingcat's Katherine de Tolly | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
In the final Stage Talk of the year, we learnt the mechanics of investigating trade data thanks to this week's guest, Bellingcat research consultant and self-confessed data nerd Katherine de Tolly. Us...
rss.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Our monthly open source challenges just got an upgrade... With hidden codes - a corrupted archive and a mysterious figure pulling the strings. Get started at challenge.bellingcat.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The next chapter of our December Challenge is about to unfold. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up with all the surprises we have in store for this month’s Bellingcat Open Source Challenge. bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com
Bellingcat Challenge Newsletter
Join the Bellingcat Challenge newsletter and get quick access to the latest open source challenges released by Bellingcat.
bellingcat-challenges.beehiiv.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The All-Russian Cossack Society turns school clubs into pipelines for state-sponsored militarisation and recruitment for war in Ukraine. Bellingcat shows how they shape an alternative mobilisation force: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
From School to Battlefield to Grave: How Russian Cossacks drive young people to war - bellingcat
The All-Russian Cossack Society turns school clubs into pipelines for state-sponsored militarisation and recruitment for war in Ukraine. Bellingcat shows how they shape an alternative mobilisation for...
www.bellingcat.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:26 AM
We're live now speaking about investigating finances! Come join us here: discord.gg/D7zDQ5r5
December 4, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Know how to make online communities feel like home (and stay organised doing it)? Bellingcat needs a Community Operations and Project Manager to support our growing global Volunteer Community and to help run Bellingcat’s Investigative Toolkit project.
Apply here: www.bellingcat.com/bellingcat-j...
Community Operations & Project Manager  - bellingcat
We are looking for a Community Operations & Project Manager to support our growing Volunteer Community and Bellingcat’s Investigative Toolkit project.
www.bellingcat.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Bellingcat has pieced together a detailed view of a crisis that has left much of Mali in the dark. Learn how the attacks behind the fuel shortages brought daily life to a halt here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
December 4, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Life in Bamako, the capital of Mali, has been brought to a standstill after a jihadist organisation launched a series of attacks on inbound fuel convoys. Bellingcat has verified six attacks since September, which together have damaged more than 130 fuel tankers. www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
Mali Under Siege: Tracking the Fuel Blockade Crippling Bamako - bellingcat
Attacks by a jihadist group on fuel convoys bound for Bamako, the capital of Mali, have destroyed more than 130 tankers since September, a Bellingcat investigation has found.  The systematic attacks b...
www.bellingcat.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Trade data can reveal everything from money trails to illicit networks. 📊
Bellingcat’s Katherine De Tolly will walk us through how to use these databases for investigations in our final Stage Talk of the year. Join live & bring your questions:
discord.gg/D7zDQ5r5?eve...
December 2, 2025 at 1:58 PM
From satellite imagery analysis to ship tracking, and from art crime research to explosives identification, we’ve covered many different skills in one year of the Bellingcat Open Source Challenge. Now it’s time to put what you’ve learnt to the test! Challenge.bellingcat.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:44 PM