Gabòr Friesen
@gaborfriesen.bsky.social
Freelance Open Source Researcher.
Geo-&Chronolocation/3D Modeling/CNNs/Social Media Analysis and Remote Sensing
Previous collaborations: Al Haq, Al Jazeera, Airwars/AFP, Bellingcat, CNN, The Washington Post.
Geo-&Chronolocation/3D Modeling/CNNs/Social Media Analysis and Remote Sensing
Previous collaborations: Al Haq, Al Jazeera, Airwars/AFP, Bellingcat, CNN, The Washington Post.
Pinned
Gabòr Friesen
@gaborfriesen.bsky.social
· Oct 12
Hamas took at least 64 captives into Gaza, visual evidence suggests
The hostages include nine children, according to an examination of hundreds of videos and images posted on social media since the fighting began.
www.washingtonpost.com
An analysis of available social media footage for the Washington Post together with Evan Hill, Joyce Lee, and Sarah Cahlan shows how Hamas took at least 106 hostages. Out of those 106 hostages, 64 were confirmed to have been transported to Gaza.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
The Matros Koshka is currently offloading wheat in Syria. Seemingly in Latakia, around 35.5223, 35.7692.
Sentinel Imagery also indicates its presence in Latakia by showing a large vessel with a coloured (blue-ish) streak near the bridge of the ship.
Sentinel Imagery also indicates its presence in Latakia by showing a large vessel with a coloured (blue-ish) streak near the bridge of the ship.
October 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
The Matros Koshka is currently offloading wheat in Syria. Seemingly in Latakia, around 35.5223, 35.7692.
Sentinel Imagery also indicates its presence in Latakia by showing a large vessel with a coloured (blue-ish) streak near the bridge of the ship.
Sentinel Imagery also indicates its presence in Latakia by showing a large vessel with a coloured (blue-ish) streak near the bridge of the ship.
Probably worth reading for the geolocators among y'all:
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
How Propagandists Keep (Unknowingly) Sharing Their Location on Telegram.
When you post an image, social media normally removes all of its metadata. If you post a picture of your home, this means that a stalker…
medium.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Probably worth reading for the geolocators among y'all:
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
For my 2nd undergraduate thesis, I researched the feasibility of using Convolutional Neural Networks to automate the process of mapping military trenches. Thought this summary might interest some of you.
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
Using AI to Detect Military Trenches on Satellite Imagery
This article provides a simplified and summarised view of my second undergraduate thesis. For access to the full thesis on this topic (14 pages) or underlying datasets, please reach out to me …
medium.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:16 PM
For my 2nd undergraduate thesis, I researched the feasibility of using Convolutional Neural Networks to automate the process of mapping military trenches. Thought this summary might interest some of you.
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
Galen and our wider tech team have built many tools that are now regularly used by Bellingcat researchers and other newsrooms. One such tool is the Shadow Finder tool, built alongside @gaborfriesen.bsky.social , that @georainbolt.bsky.social tested out last year. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQIj...
how to find a location using only the shadow
YouTube video by RAINBOLT
www.youtube.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Galen and our wider tech team have built many tools that are now regularly used by Bellingcat researchers and other newsrooms. One such tool is the Shadow Finder tool, built alongside @gaborfriesen.bsky.social , that @georainbolt.bsky.social tested out last year. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQIj...
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
Despite the fact that I haven't been making any new guides, some of which were written together with @gaborfriesen.bsky.social, in relation to applying OSINT techniques in the Middle East for a while, it always warms my heart when people from the region use these to learn these skills themselves.
May 14, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Despite the fact that I haven't been making any new guides, some of which were written together with @gaborfriesen.bsky.social, in relation to applying OSINT techniques in the Middle East for a while, it always warms my heart when people from the region use these to learn these skills themselves.
If 1 isn’t enough or if Chris’s time gets filled up, same
If there are any media platforms, humanitarian organizations, or research collectives who need any assistance in open source investigations or visual verification, I want to let you know that I have time available in my agenda again.
Feel free to reach out via DM for a ☕️
Feel free to reach out via DM for a ☕️
April 1, 2025 at 10:19 AM
If 1 isn’t enough or if Chris’s time gets filled up, same
Vehicle identification:
If any journalists here ever struggle to identify (military) vehicles on (relatively) low-resolution sat imagery, please let me know.
I'm testing a new identification method. Too busy to find cases right now, but if anyone already has a case, I'd love to help and see.
If any journalists here ever struggle to identify (military) vehicles on (relatively) low-resolution sat imagery, please let me know.
I'm testing a new identification method. Too busy to find cases right now, but if anyone already has a case, I'd love to help and see.
March 4, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Vehicle identification:
If any journalists here ever struggle to identify (military) vehicles on (relatively) low-resolution sat imagery, please let me know.
I'm testing a new identification method. Too busy to find cases right now, but if anyone already has a case, I'd love to help and see.
If any journalists here ever struggle to identify (military) vehicles on (relatively) low-resolution sat imagery, please let me know.
I'm testing a new identification method. Too busy to find cases right now, but if anyone already has a case, I'd love to help and see.
Just clicked a link in an NOS (dutch news) article expecting to go to X but actually ended up on Bluesky, nice surprise.
March 1, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Just clicked a link in an NOS (dutch news) article expecting to go to X but actually ended up on Bluesky, nice surprise.
Another tool idea:
OSINT Mental Health:
An extension that uses CNNs to draw bounding boxes around humans in videos (models for this already exist), before automatically blocking out the areas in those bounding boxes.
Reduces the amount of graphic content that researchers face in conflict videos.
OSINT Mental Health:
An extension that uses CNNs to draw bounding boxes around humans in videos (models for this already exist), before automatically blocking out the areas in those bounding boxes.
Reduces the amount of graphic content that researchers face in conflict videos.
January 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Another tool idea:
OSINT Mental Health:
An extension that uses CNNs to draw bounding boxes around humans in videos (models for this already exist), before automatically blocking out the areas in those bounding boxes.
Reduces the amount of graphic content that researchers face in conflict videos.
OSINT Mental Health:
An extension that uses CNNs to draw bounding boxes around humans in videos (models for this already exist), before automatically blocking out the areas in those bounding boxes.
Reduces the amount of graphic content that researchers face in conflict videos.
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
Since 7 October 2023, CIR has verified over 1,300 incidents across Gaza, Lebanon & Israel, documenting destruction, casualties & violations using over 9,100 pieces of data.
Explore our open-source map to uncover the trends and stories behind the numbers ⬇️
Explore our open-source map to uncover the trends and stories behind the numbers ⬇️
Israel-Gaza Conflict Map
The Israel-Gaza Conflict Map is a map of incidents documented by CIR covering the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel and Lebanon since 7 October 2023.
www.info-res.org
December 20, 2024 at 9:15 AM
Since 7 October 2023, CIR has verified over 1,300 incidents across Gaza, Lebanon & Israel, documenting destruction, casualties & violations using over 9,100 pieces of data.
Explore our open-source map to uncover the trends and stories behind the numbers ⬇️
Explore our open-source map to uncover the trends and stories behind the numbers ⬇️
We tried to geolocate the 2012 video of Austin Tice. In the process, we realised that it was most likely created right next to a Syrian military base.
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
(a comprehensive write-up of our recent thread)
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
(a comprehensive write-up of our recent thread)
Geolocating The Disappearance of Austin Tice
This article is an expanded version of the original Bluesky thread
medium.com
December 15, 2024 at 2:03 AM
We tried to geolocate the 2012 video of Austin Tice. In the process, we realised that it was most likely created right next to a Syrian military base.
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
(a comprehensive write-up of our recent thread)
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
(a comprehensive write-up of our recent thread)
Austin Tice kidnapping video valley geolocation.
Local confirmation is needed.
The video of Austin Tice in 2012 shows few details. But in the Bellingcat discord, we think we have identified the specific valley at 33.511, 36.007. Damascus-based journalists could help investigate this further (1/8).
Local confirmation is needed.
The video of Austin Tice in 2012 shows few details. But in the Bellingcat discord, we think we have identified the specific valley at 33.511, 36.007. Damascus-based journalists could help investigate this further (1/8).
December 14, 2024 at 7:16 PM
Austin Tice kidnapping video valley geolocation.
Local confirmation is needed.
The video of Austin Tice in 2012 shows few details. But in the Bellingcat discord, we think we have identified the specific valley at 33.511, 36.007. Damascus-based journalists could help investigate this further (1/8).
Local confirmation is needed.
The video of Austin Tice in 2012 shows few details. But in the Bellingcat discord, we think we have identified the specific valley at 33.511, 36.007. Damascus-based journalists could help investigate this further (1/8).
Advanced Solar Geolocation Tutorial:
For everyone who works with geolocation or chronolocation, I wrote a guide for new method to locate images based only on the time and *a part* of a shadow.
In this scenario, object heights and full shadows are not necessary anymore.
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
For everyone who works with geolocation or chronolocation, I wrote a guide for new method to locate images based only on the time and *a part* of a shadow.
In this scenario, object heights and full shadows are not necessary anymore.
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
Advanced Solar Geolocation Tutorial: Proof of Concept 1
Recently, I worked with Bellingcat to develop the Shadow Finder. Previously, people mostly combined the sun and a location to find the…
medium.com
December 12, 2024 at 12:08 AM
Advanced Solar Geolocation Tutorial:
For everyone who works with geolocation or chronolocation, I wrote a guide for new method to locate images based only on the time and *a part* of a shadow.
In this scenario, object heights and full shadows are not necessary anymore.
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
For everyone who works with geolocation or chronolocation, I wrote a guide for new method to locate images based only on the time and *a part* of a shadow.
In this scenario, object heights and full shadows are not necessary anymore.
medium.com/@gaborfriese...
A shot in the dark for those with a coding background who have free time (I'm jealous):
Previously, Bellingcat and I published the shadow finder tool. However, further development is possible. The theory is there, just not the code.
Therefore, I'll put forward this problem for anyone interested.
Previously, Bellingcat and I published the shadow finder tool. However, further development is possible. The theory is there, just not the code.
Therefore, I'll put forward this problem for anyone interested.
November 24, 2024 at 2:19 PM
A shot in the dark for those with a coding background who have free time (I'm jealous):
Previously, Bellingcat and I published the shadow finder tool. However, further development is possible. The theory is there, just not the code.
Therefore, I'll put forward this problem for anyone interested.
Previously, Bellingcat and I published the shadow finder tool. However, further development is possible. The theory is there, just not the code.
Therefore, I'll put forward this problem for anyone interested.
Considering the fact that I suddenly have 3000 new followers, maybe a short introduction is in order.
Hey people, I’m Gabòr. Originally a geo-/chronolocation enthusiast with a focus on Israel/Palestine.
I don’t post much these days, but when i do, you’ll mostly see my ideas for new OSINV methods.
Hey people, I’m Gabòr. Originally a geo-/chronolocation enthusiast with a focus on Israel/Palestine.
I don’t post much these days, but when i do, you’ll mostly see my ideas for new OSINV methods.
November 18, 2024 at 10:34 PM
Considering the fact that I suddenly have 3000 new followers, maybe a short introduction is in order.
Hey people, I’m Gabòr. Originally a geo-/chronolocation enthusiast with a focus on Israel/Palestine.
I don’t post much these days, but when i do, you’ll mostly see my ideas for new OSINV methods.
Hey people, I’m Gabòr. Originally a geo-/chronolocation enthusiast with a focus on Israel/Palestine.
I don’t post much these days, but when i do, you’ll mostly see my ideas for new OSINV methods.
> gets told to check bluesky (haven’t been online in a couple days because of the weekend so sure)
> sees “30+ notifications” in the bottom right???
Good list though, highly recommend following the others on it if you’re not following them yet.
> sees “30+ notifications” in the bottom right???
Good list though, highly recommend following the others on it if you’re not following them yet.
With @eliothiggins.bsky.social joining Bluesky, we've made a little starter pack of previous and current Bellingcat staff and contributors so you can find all of us open source researchers lurking on here! go.bsky.app/HZSzS41
November 6, 2024 at 9:54 PM
> gets told to check bluesky (haven’t been online in a couple days because of the weekend so sure)
> sees “30+ notifications” in the bottom right???
Good list though, highly recommend following the others on it if you’re not following them yet.
> sees “30+ notifications” in the bottom right???
Good list though, highly recommend following the others on it if you’re not following them yet.
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
The shadow in an image can be the key to narrowing down your geolocation. Bellingcat’s new Shadow Finder Tool helps by automating the process- searching the globe for matching shadow angles to provide clues about where an image was taken. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...
Chasing Shadows: Geolocate Images with Bellingcat's Shadow Finder Tool - bellingcat
Use this new tool to narrow down your search area from the entire globe to just a handful of countries and locations.
www.bellingcat.com
August 22, 2024 at 9:30 AM
The shadow in an image can be the key to narrowing down your geolocation. Bellingcat’s new Shadow Finder Tool helps by automating the process- searching the globe for matching shadow angles to provide clues about where an image was taken. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
Geolocating an image using the shadows? The Bellingcat Shadow Finder Tool makes this possible! Bellingcat's Galen Reich and Bellingcat Discord member Gabor Friesen spoke to Rainbolt and explained the tool. Find the tool on the Bellingcat Github and give it a try!
how to find a location using only the shadow
tool here: https://colab.research.google.com/github/GalenReich/ShadowFinder/blob/main/ShadowFinderColab.ipynbty again to gabor and galen for being apart of t...
www.youtube.com
June 4, 2024 at 4:16 PM
Geolocating an image using the shadows? The Bellingcat Shadow Finder Tool makes this possible! Bellingcat's Galen Reich and Bellingcat Discord member Gabor Friesen spoke to Rainbolt and explained the tool. Find the tool on the Bellingcat Github and give it a try!
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
4 hostages rescued amid nearly 4 hours of airstrikes.
Our Visual Forensics investigation reconstructs the Israeli hostage rescue raid in Nuseirat, Gaza in which a vehicle broke down, a commander was shot, a family was home raided, and so many Palestinians were killed.
Watch here wapo.st/4di8P1F
Our Visual Forensics investigation reconstructs the Israeli hostage rescue raid in Nuseirat, Gaza in which a vehicle broke down, a commander was shot, a family was home raided, and so many Palestinians were killed.
Watch here wapo.st/4di8P1F
How an Israeli hostage rescue that left scores of Palestinians dead unfolded
A review of videos of the June 8 raid in Nuseirat shows the Israeli military employed heavy airstrikes on a dense residential area for nearly four hours
wapo.st
August 13, 2024 at 3:48 PM
4 hostages rescued amid nearly 4 hours of airstrikes.
Our Visual Forensics investigation reconstructs the Israeli hostage rescue raid in Nuseirat, Gaza in which a vehicle broke down, a commander was shot, a family was home raided, and so many Palestinians were killed.
Watch here wapo.st/4di8P1F
Our Visual Forensics investigation reconstructs the Israeli hostage rescue raid in Nuseirat, Gaza in which a vehicle broke down, a commander was shot, a family was home raided, and so many Palestinians were killed.
Watch here wapo.st/4di8P1F
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
Another Monday, another episode, for six years already!
H/T: @bellingcat.com @gralhix.bsky.social @gaborfriesen.bsky.social
sector035.nl/articles/202...
H/T: @bellingcat.com @gralhix.bsky.social @gaborfriesen.bsky.social
sector035.nl/articles/202...
Week in OSINT 202423
Your weekly dose of OSINT news brings you some more UDM options, Sofia and Shadows, and we'll look at some creepypasta!
This week I loo
sector035.nl
June 10, 2024 at 6:01 AM
Another Monday, another episode, for six years already!
H/T: @bellingcat.com @gralhix.bsky.social @gaborfriesen.bsky.social
sector035.nl/articles/202...
H/T: @bellingcat.com @gralhix.bsky.social @gaborfriesen.bsky.social
sector035.nl/articles/202...
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
PSA: don’t view extreme violence unless absolutely required for a specific job task. If absolutely required, engage in harm reduction. Violence is like toxic waste: something to be avoided, contained, and remediated. 1/x
October 15, 2023 at 4:19 PM
PSA: don’t view extreme violence unless absolutely required for a specific job task. If absolutely required, engage in harm reduction. Violence is like toxic waste: something to be avoided, contained, and remediated. 1/x
Reposted by Gabòr Friesen
My and @gaborfriesen.bsky.social geolocation of the precise location of the explosion on Salah al-Din street was used by FT and Airwars, as well as munitions experts, to provide new evidence that points to IDF weapons as blasts hit multiple cars along main road south. www.ft.com/content/95c5...
Did Israel bomb a civilian evacuation route in Gaza?
Evidence points to IDF weapons as blasts hit multiple cars along main road south
www.ft.com
October 15, 2023 at 12:23 PM
My and @gaborfriesen.bsky.social geolocation of the precise location of the explosion on Salah al-Din street was used by FT and Airwars, as well as munitions experts, to provide new evidence that points to IDF weapons as blasts hit multiple cars along main road south. www.ft.com/content/95c5...
An analysis of available social media footage for the Washington Post together with Evan Hill, Joyce Lee, and Sarah Cahlan shows how Hamas took at least 106 hostages. Out of those 106 hostages, 64 were confirmed to have been transported to Gaza.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
Hamas took at least 64 captives into Gaza, visual evidence suggests
The hostages include nine children, according to an examination of hundreds of videos and images posted on social media since the fighting began.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 12, 2023 at 11:44 PM
An analysis of available social media footage for the Washington Post together with Evan Hill, Joyce Lee, and Sarah Cahlan shows how Hamas took at least 106 hostages. Out of those 106 hostages, 64 were confirmed to have been transported to Gaza.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
Geolocated (reportedly) Hamas fighters in Ashkelon, 07/10/2023
Source: t.me/milinfolive/...
Coordinates: (31.6679755, 34.5707355)
Proof: maps.app.goo.gl/7v3qSF8NgZJK...
Source: t.me/milinfolive/...
Coordinates: (31.6679755, 34.5707355)
Proof: maps.app.goo.gl/7v3qSF8NgZJK...
Военный Осведомитель
Вооруженные боевики ХАМАС на улицах израильского Ашкелона, находящегося в 7 километрах от границы с Палестин...
t.me
October 7, 2023 at 9:02 AM
Geolocated (reportedly) Hamas fighters in Ashkelon, 07/10/2023
Source: t.me/milinfolive/...
Coordinates: (31.6679755, 34.5707355)
Proof: maps.app.goo.gl/7v3qSF8NgZJK...
Source: t.me/milinfolive/...
Coordinates: (31.6679755, 34.5707355)
Proof: maps.app.goo.gl/7v3qSF8NgZJK...