Eliot Higgins
@eliothiggins.bsky.social
Founder and creative director of Bellingcat and director of Bellingcat Productions BV. Author of We Are Bellingcat.
Pinned
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
oh my goodness they're now playing Trump propaganda videos 2 hours deep in this "Board of Peace" meeting
February 19, 2026 at 3:56 PM
oh my goodness they're now playing Trump propaganda videos 2 hours deep in this "Board of Peace" meeting
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
FT exclusive:
Global Counsel, the advisory firm founded by Lord Peter Mandelson, is set to go into administration as soon as Friday in the wake of revelations about the former peer and Jeffrey Epstein, its staff have been told.
www.ft.com/content/ad5d...
Global Counsel, the advisory firm founded by Lord Peter Mandelson, is set to go into administration as soon as Friday in the wake of revelations about the former peer and Jeffrey Epstein, its staff have been told.
www.ft.com/content/ad5d...
February 19, 2026 at 2:11 PM
FT exclusive:
Global Counsel, the advisory firm founded by Lord Peter Mandelson, is set to go into administration as soon as Friday in the wake of revelations about the former peer and Jeffrey Epstein, its staff have been told.
www.ft.com/content/ad5d...
Global Counsel, the advisory firm founded by Lord Peter Mandelson, is set to go into administration as soon as Friday in the wake of revelations about the former peer and Jeffrey Epstein, its staff have been told.
www.ft.com/content/ad5d...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
But at Bellingcat, we found evidence of hundreds of IMSAG issued vessel certificates, some as recently as December 2025.
February 19, 2026 at 1:24 PM
But at Bellingcat, we found evidence of hundreds of IMSAG issued vessel certificates, some as recently as December 2025.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
In August, Suniel Sharma claimed in an FT interview that his ship registration company "International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana," disclaimed as fraudulent by Guyana and the International Maritime Organization, was no longer active and remained online but “not operational just informative."
February 19, 2026 at 1:24 PM
In August, Suniel Sharma claimed in an FT interview that his ship registration company "International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana," disclaimed as fraudulent by Guyana and the International Maritime Organization, was no longer active and remained online but “not operational just informative."
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
The Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in south Gaza, contracting records show.
The site is envisioned as an operating base for a future multinational force. Indonesia has already pledged troops.
w/ @aramroston.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
The site is envisioned as an operating base for a future multinational force. Indonesia has already pledged troops.
w/ @aramroston.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza, files show
Exclusive: approximately 350-acre compound planned as base for multinational force, according to records reviewed by the Guardian
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:59 PM
The Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in south Gaza, contracting records show.
The site is envisioned as an operating base for a future multinational force. Indonesia has already pledged troops.
w/ @aramroston.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
The site is envisioned as an operating base for a future multinational force. Indonesia has already pledged troops.
w/ @aramroston.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza, files show www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza, files show
Exclusive: approximately 350-acre compound planned as base for multinational force, according to records reviewed by the Guardian
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza, files show www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
From AI tools to the arrest of Prince Andrew: How newsrooms are digging into the Jeffrey Epstein files
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/epstein...
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/epstein...
From AI tools to the arrest of Prince Andrew: How newsrooms are digging into the Jeffrey Epstein files
Editors from the BBC, the New York Times, the Guardian, the Miami Herald and Bellingcat on the tech, communities and strategies helping them cover the story.
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk
February 19, 2026 at 1:18 PM
From AI tools to the arrest of Prince Andrew: How newsrooms are digging into the Jeffrey Epstein files
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/epstein...
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/epstein...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Andrew's completely broke which raises the possibility that a Norfolk duty solicitor is currently having the strangest day of his / her life.
February 19, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Andrew's completely broke which raises the possibility that a Norfolk duty solicitor is currently having the strangest day of his / her life.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
wow, I'd assumed they would have not said anything about it
February 19, 2026 at 12:05 PM
wow, I'd assumed they would have not said anything about it
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters reut.rs/4cySsA6
Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal that will enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propagan...
reut.rs
February 18, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters reut.rs/4cySsA6
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
“my children might see the children I voted to put in shackles, how shall they grow up”
February 19, 2026 at 4:44 AM
“my children might see the children I voted to put in shackles, how shall they grow up”
Good to see our foreign policy is being dictated by Donald Trump.
BREAKING: Keir Starmer has delayed the legislation handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius
February 19, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Good to see our foreign policy is being dictated by Donald Trump.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
On his birthday at that.
February 19, 2026 at 10:21 AM
On his birthday at that.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
It comes after Thames Valley Police said they were assessing a complaint over the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with Jeffrey Epstein.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 19, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Excited to share this work!
I have worked with @tomi-mcc.bsky.social and the team at @bellingcat.com to uncover the continuing operation that can be linked to the false flags at Dominica, Micronesia, Samoa, Guyana, Eswatini, St. Maarten, Aruba, Nicaragua, ... and many more.
I have worked with @tomi-mcc.bsky.social and the team at @bellingcat.com to uncover the continuing operation that can be linked to the false flags at Dominica, Micronesia, Samoa, Guyana, Eswatini, St. Maarten, Aruba, Nicaragua, ... and many more.
New from Bellingcat: Shipwrecks, sham papers and false flags. We traced a network of fraudulent ship registries linked to Captain Suniel Kumar Sharma, connecting a wrecked tanker in India, an arms seizure in Senegal, and sanctioned oil transfers off Malaysia.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
Shipwrecks, Sham Papers and False Flags: Tracking the Company Behind It All - bellingcat
A shipwreck in India, an ammunition seizure in Senegal, and a raid on an oil tanker in Malaysia - all involving one recurring figure: Captain Suniel Sharma.
www.bellingcat.com
February 19, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Excited to share this work!
I have worked with @tomi-mcc.bsky.social and the team at @bellingcat.com to uncover the continuing operation that can be linked to the false flags at Dominica, Micronesia, Samoa, Guyana, Eswatini, St. Maarten, Aruba, Nicaragua, ... and many more.
I have worked with @tomi-mcc.bsky.social and the team at @bellingcat.com to uncover the continuing operation that can be linked to the false flags at Dominica, Micronesia, Samoa, Guyana, Eswatini, St. Maarten, Aruba, Nicaragua, ... and many more.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
3/3
Other formats, also typical for Matryoshka, include doctored press covers, non-existent street art and more.
Other formats, also typical for Matryoshka, include doctored press covers, non-existent street art and more.
February 19, 2026 at 6:51 AM
3/3
Other formats, also typical for Matryoshka, include doctored press covers, non-existent street art and more.
Other formats, also typical for Matryoshka, include doctored press covers, non-existent street art and more.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
2/
Some of those videos look more believable (and occasionally turn out more viral) than the others.
This is because they are more aggressively exploiting authentic footage, followed by Kremlin's talking points frequently with AI-powered voice-over.
Some of those videos look more believable (and occasionally turn out more viral) than the others.
This is because they are more aggressively exploiting authentic footage, followed by Kremlin's talking points frequently with AI-powered voice-over.
February 19, 2026 at 6:51 AM
2/
Some of those videos look more believable (and occasionally turn out more viral) than the others.
This is because they are more aggressively exploiting authentic footage, followed by Kremlin's talking points frequently with AI-powered voice-over.
Some of those videos look more believable (and occasionally turn out more viral) than the others.
This is because they are more aggressively exploiting authentic footage, followed by Kremlin's talking points frequently with AI-powered voice-over.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
🧵Milano Cortina Olympics is being targeted by Russian-state disinfo since Feb 04.
In 6 days Matryoshka, a long exposed Russian-state disinfo bot network, published 35 fake videos on the topic.
If you are a journalist interested in covering them, please reach out for details.
In 6 days Matryoshka, a long exposed Russian-state disinfo bot network, published 35 fake videos on the topic.
If you are a journalist interested in covering them, please reach out for details.
February 19, 2026 at 6:51 AM
🧵Milano Cortina Olympics is being targeted by Russian-state disinfo since Feb 04.
In 6 days Matryoshka, a long exposed Russian-state disinfo bot network, published 35 fake videos on the topic.
If you are a journalist interested in covering them, please reach out for details.
In 6 days Matryoshka, a long exposed Russian-state disinfo bot network, published 35 fake videos on the topic.
If you are a journalist interested in covering them, please reach out for details.
New from Bellingcat: Shipwrecks, sham papers and false flags. We traced a network of fraudulent ship registries linked to Captain Suniel Kumar Sharma, connecting a wrecked tanker in India, an arms seizure in Senegal, and sanctioned oil transfers off Malaysia.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
Shipwrecks, Sham Papers and False Flags: Tracking the Company Behind It All - bellingcat
A shipwreck in India, an ammunition seizure in Senegal, and a raid on an oil tanker in Malaysia - all involving one recurring figure: Captain Suniel Sharma.
www.bellingcat.com
February 19, 2026 at 9:02 AM
New from Bellingcat: Shipwrecks, sham papers and false flags. We traced a network of fraudulent ship registries linked to Captain Suniel Kumar Sharma, connecting a wrecked tanker in India, an arms seizure in Senegal, and sanctioned oil transfers off Malaysia.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
Authoritarians, strongmen and dictators: who is on Trump’s Board of Peace? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Authoritarians, strongmen and dictators: who is on Trump’s Board of Peace?
Representatives of repressive regimes from around the world are flying to Washington for the inaugural meeting of the body
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Authoritarians, strongmen and dictators: who is on Trump’s Board of Peace? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for leading insurrection in South Korea www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for leading insurrection in South Korea
Former South Korean president found guilty over failed martial law declaration in 2024
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for leading insurrection in South Korea www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for leading insurrection in South Korea www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for leading insurrection in South Korea
Former South Korean president found guilty over failed martial law declaration in 2024
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life in prison for leading insurrection in South Korea www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
"An Associated Press reporter was beaten by the police and detained along with three other journalists on Tuesday in Cameroon while reporting on a secretive Trump administration program to deport migrants to the Central African country, according to two of the people detained." (gift link)
Journalists Arrested in Cameroon While Reporting on Trump’s Secretive Deportation Program
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:10 PM
"An Associated Press reporter was beaten by the police and detained along with three other journalists on Tuesday in Cameroon while reporting on a secretive Trump administration program to deport migrants to the Central African country, according to two of the people detained." (gift link)
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
So Trump, and not the "anonymous staffer," actually did post the Obamas/apes video?
Q: The president just said on Truth Social it would be a 'big mistake' for UK to hold over control of Diego Garcia, but the State Dept said the US supports that handover
LEAVITT: The post should be taken as administration policy. When you see it on TS, you know it's directly from President Trump.
LEAVITT: The post should be taken as administration policy. When you see it on TS, you know it's directly from President Trump.
February 18, 2026 at 8:44 PM
So Trump, and not the "anonymous staffer," actually did post the Obamas/apes video?