Eliot Higgins
@eliothiggins.bsky.social
Founder and creative director of Bellingcat and director of Bellingcat Productions BV. Author of We Are Bellingcat.
Pinned
America’s Slide Toward Simulated Democracy with Eliot Higgins
YouTube video by The Atlantic
www.youtube.com
I joined @cwarzel.bsky.social on the Galaxy Brain Podcast to explain some of the reasons why America, and a lot of other Western democracies, are sliding into authoritarianism and why it's probably inevitable
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvFh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvFh...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
True: bsky.app/profile/thei...
Matryoshka bot network launches fake campaign claiming Zelensky “wished death” on Trump in his Christmas address
Zelensky was referring to an unnamed person — but judging by context, he clearly had in mind Vladimir Putin, the Bot Blocker Project @antibot4navalny.bsky.social reports.
Zelensky was referring to an unnamed person — but judging by context, he clearly had in mind Vladimir Putin, the Bot Blocker Project @antibot4navalny.bsky.social reports.
Matryoshka bot network launches fake campaign claiming Zelensky “wished death” on Trump in his Christmas address
The Kremlin-backed Matryoshka bot network has launched a disinformation campaign following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Christmas address, in which he wished death upon an unnamed person
theins.press
December 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
True: bsky.app/profile/thei...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
I remember when she landed! I’d just come from Pilates with Gwyneth and her pal, Rick Caruso, and was in my Tesla having an Erewhon smoothie when Bob at Disney called about a citywide party for Bari because that’s the intentional kindness that all 3.88 million Angelenos show to cast-out New Yorkers!
Bari Weiss’s move to L.A. was essential to her reinvention. If New Yorkers had cast her out under a hail of jeers, Angelenos embraced Weiss for a variety of reasons, not least because, in this industry town, journalists are exotic animals.
Bari Weiss In Wonderland
Her exile in Hollywood paved the way for a triumphant return to New York.
nymag.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I remember when she landed! I’d just come from Pilates with Gwyneth and her pal, Rick Caruso, and was in my Tesla having an Erewhon smoothie when Bob at Disney called about a citywide party for Bari because that’s the intentional kindness that all 3.88 million Angelenos show to cast-out New Yorkers!
Russia's long running Matryoshka disinformation campaign has posted a lot about Zelensky's speech over the last couple of days, the main themes are that he's actually speaking about Donald Trump and how terrible it is he would say such a thing at Christmas.
⚡️'May he perish,' — Zelensky voices Ukrainians' wish in his Christmas Eve address.
"'May he perish,' each of us may think to ourselves," Zelensky said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater. We ask for peace for Ukraine."
"'May he perish,' each of us may think to ourselves," Zelensky said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater. We ask for peace for Ukraine."
'May he perish,' — Zelensky voices Ukrainians' wish in his Christmas Eve address
"'May he perish,' each of us may think to ourselves," Zelensky said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater. We ask for peace ...
kyivindependent.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Russia's long running Matryoshka disinformation campaign has posted a lot about Zelensky's speech over the last couple of days, the main themes are that he's actually speaking about Donald Trump and how terrible it is he would say such a thing at Christmas.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Denis Kapustin (“Nikitin”), Russian neo-Nazi leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) fighting on the Ukrainian side against Russia, has been killed in battle, reportedly by an FPV drone strike
International neo-Nazi Telegram is already full of remembrances and eulogies for ‘White Rex’
International neo-Nazi Telegram is already full of remembrances and eulogies for ‘White Rex’
December 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Denis Kapustin (“Nikitin”), Russian neo-Nazi leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) fighting on the Ukrainian side against Russia, has been killed in battle, reportedly by an FPV drone strike
International neo-Nazi Telegram is already full of remembrances and eulogies for ‘White Rex’
International neo-Nazi Telegram is already full of remembrances and eulogies for ‘White Rex’
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Finally had a chance to read this Incredible piece by @gregsargent.bsky.social that documents Miller’s attempt to undo and reverse the 1965 immigration settlement and reveals how central this effort is to the administration’s reactionary aim to take down the New Deal and civil rights orders.
December 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Finally had a chance to read this Incredible piece by @gregsargent.bsky.social that documents Miller’s attempt to undo and reverse the 1965 immigration settlement and reveals how central this effort is to the administration’s reactionary aim to take down the New Deal and civil rights orders.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Maybe this, not the data centres, is the infrastructure payoff from the AI bubble.
December 27, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Maybe this, not the data centres, is the infrastructure payoff from the AI bubble.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Together, they form part of a broader media ecosystem that relies on visibility, repetition, and manufactured authority. Publishing a book confers status. It feeds search engines, platform bios, event credentials, and Al-generated summaries.
December 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Together, they form part of a broader media ecosystem that relies on visibility, repetition, and manufactured authority. Publishing a book confers status. It feeds search engines, platform bios, event credentials, and Al-generated summaries.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
These books sit alongside op-eds, conference appearances, podcasts, and social media amplification. All promoting propaganda reflecting talking points of the UAE, Israel and right wing European movements
December 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM
These books sit alongside op-eds, conference appearances, podcasts, and social media amplification. All promoting propaganda reflecting talking points of the UAE, Israel and right wing European movements
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Over the past year, a small cluster of Emirati social media personalities have begun presenting themselves as authors. At least eight published books within a short window, all with the same vanity publisher, and all showing strong signs of #Al authorship.
December 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Over the past year, a small cluster of Emirati social media personalities have begun presenting themselves as authors. At least eight published books within a short window, all with the same vanity publisher, and all showing strong signs of #Al authorship.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
🧵Have you ever heard of LLM-authored books being used as part of an disinformation operation?
Well now you have!
#AI #Disinformation
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
Well now you have!
#AI #Disinformation
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
December 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM
🧵Have you ever heard of LLM-authored books being used as part of an disinformation operation?
Well now you have!
#AI #Disinformation
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
Well now you have!
#AI #Disinformation
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
They’re calling it the least suspicious Trump post of all time
December 27, 2025 at 1:21 AM
They’re calling it the least suspicious Trump post of all time
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
We laugh at Liz Truss, but she has become a monster.
December 26, 2025 at 11:11 AM
We laugh at Liz Truss, but she has become a monster.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
December 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
joining the "cybertruck owners only" group on fb is one of the best decisions i've ever made. every so often when i'm scrolling through fb getting pissed off, i get to see a little treat like this
December 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
joining the "cybertruck owners only" group on fb is one of the best decisions i've ever made. every so often when i'm scrolling through fb getting pissed off, i get to see a little treat like this
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
‘It’s because you do good work’
By targeting the CEO of The Center for Countering Digital Hate, the Trump regime is caught in another big lie
By targeting the CEO of The Center for Countering Digital Hate, the Trump regime is caught in another big lie
‘It’s because you do good work’
By targeting the CEO of The Center for Countering Digital Hate, the Trump regime is caught in another big lie
www.bettedangerous.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:11 PM
‘It’s because you do good work’
By targeting the CEO of The Center for Countering Digital Hate, the Trump regime is caught in another big lie
By targeting the CEO of The Center for Countering Digital Hate, the Trump regime is caught in another big lie
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
US judge blocks Trump administration from deporting UK anti-disinformation campaigner
US judge blocks Trump administration from deporting UK anti-disinformation campaigner
Imran Ahmed of Center for Countering Digital Hate files complaint against senior Trump allies
A US judge has blocked US authorities from detaining or deporting a British anti-disinformation campaigner who is among five European nationals targeted by the Trump administration because of moves to push back against hate speech and misinformation.
Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), filed a complaint on Thursday against senior Trump allies including the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the attorney general, Pam Bondi, in an attempt to prevent what he says would be an unconstitutional arrest and removal. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:36 AM
US judge blocks Trump administration from deporting UK anti-disinformation campaigner
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
‘All brakes are off’: Russia’s attempt to rein in illicit market for leaked data backfires
‘All brakes are off’: Russia’s attempt to rein in illicit market for leaked data backfires
Russian state has tolerated parallel probiv market for its convenience but now Ukrainian spies are exploiting it
Russia is scrambling to rein in the country’s sprawling illicit market for leaked personal data, a shadowy ecosystem long exploited by investigative journalists, police and criminal groups.
For more than a decade, Russia’s so-called probiv market – a term derived from the verb “to pierce” or “to punch into a search bar” – has operated as a parallel information economy built on a network of corrupt officials, traffic police, bank employees and low-level security staff willing to sell access to restricted government or corporate databases. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
‘All brakes are off’: Russia’s attempt to rein in illicit market for leaked data backfires
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Tonight. 7.45pm and then 9.45pm. Things are gonna be bananas!
Here it is, my big #EastEnders catch-up thread for people who only see it when they go home for Christmas with the family. Allow me to get you all caught up on the goings-on in Albert Square in its most explosive week of the year! KEEP THIS BY YOUR SIDE AT ALL TIMES.
December 25, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Tonight. 7.45pm and then 9.45pm. Things are gonna be bananas!
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
And yet, In Covid’s Wake quotes me as saying that “the FBI went beyond strategic information sharing and made direct moderation demands” — literally the opposite of what I argue — to buttress their claim that the government was too busy censoring speech to adequately deal with the pandemic.
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
And yet, In Covid’s Wake quotes me as saying that “the FBI went beyond strategic information sharing and made direct moderation demands” — literally the opposite of what I argue — to buttress their claim that the government was too busy censoring speech to adequately deal with the pandemic.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
One such refutation appears in my paper under the heading “The FBI went beyond strategic information sharing and made direct moderation demands.” I spend several hundred words explaining that that didn’t happen.
![Receiving and acting on external reports is a core function of plattorm content moderation teams, and the essential nature of this work is an independent evaluation of reported content under the platform's own policies. The fact, cited in Missouri v. Biden, that platforms only acted on approximately half of reports from the FBI shows clearly that the standards platforms applied were not wholly, or even mostly, the government's.
Finally, it does not withstand factual scrutiny that platforms were so petrified of adverse consequences from the FBI that they uncritically accepted and acted on information sent to them by the government. The Twitter Files themselves document clearly at least two instances in which, presented with low-quality information or questionable demands, Twitter pushed back on the FBI's requests. In one case, the FBI passes on a request-seemingly from the NSA-that Twitter "revis[e] its terms of service" to allow an open-source intelligence vendor to collect data from the Twitter APIs to inform the NSA's activities. This request is arguably as close to jawboning as any interaction between Twitter and the FBI gets; yet, in response, I summarily dismissed not only the request for a meeting to discuss the topic, but the entire premise of the request, writing, "The best path for NSA, or any part of government, to request information about Twitter users or their content is in accordance with valid legal process." The question was not raised again.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ka6qwlgc2fec7gkz6cfuuxgx/bafkreibhs7piz367lbv4dfkgv3zw27p2wys2cqsuyn53oecxdnzusu5goq@jpeg)
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
One such refutation appears in my paper under the heading “The FBI went beyond strategic information sharing and made direct moderation demands.” I spend several hundred words explaining that that didn’t happen.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
The authors quote from an article I wrote in 2023, refuting false claims about government jawboning of social media platforms. One of the claims I directly push back against is the persistent lie that the FBI demanded Twitter censor online speech.
knightcolumbia.org/blog/getting...
knightcolumbia.org/blog/getting...
Getting the Facts Straight: Some Observations on the Fifth Circuit Ruling in Missouri v. Biden
knightcolumbia.org
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The authors quote from an article I wrote in 2023, refuting false claims about government jawboning of social media platforms. One of the claims I directly push back against is the persistent lie that the FBI demanded Twitter censor online speech.
knightcolumbia.org/blog/getting...
knightcolumbia.org/blog/getting...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Kennedy Center Christmas Eve jazz concert canceled after Trump name added to building
Kennedy Center Christmas Eve jazz concert canceled after Trump name added to building
“When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” Chuck Redd said.
dlvr.it
December 24, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Kennedy Center Christmas Eve jazz concert canceled after Trump name added to building
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
CBS destroying a brand they built up over the course of like 100 years for one criminal idiot is a pretty funny bit
'Smallest audience ever': Kennedy Center Honors tank on CBS after Trump takes over
www.rawstory.com/trump-kenned...
www.rawstory.com/trump-kenned...
'Smallest audience ever': Kennedy Center Honors tank on CBS after Trump takes over
"The Kennedy Center Honors" reportedly drew its lowest ratings ever after President Donald Trump announced he would host the event."According to preliminary Nielsen data, 'The Kennedy Center Honors' o...
www.rawstory.com
December 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
CBS destroying a brand they built up over the course of like 100 years for one criminal idiot is a pretty funny bit