Giancarlo Fiorella
@giancarlofiorella.bsky.social
Director of Research and Training | Bellingcat
Assistant Professor | Utrecht University
PhD, Criminology & Sociolegal Studies | University of Toronto
www.giancarlofiorella.com
Opinions my own
Assistant Professor | Utrecht University
PhD, Criminology & Sociolegal Studies | University of Toronto
www.giancarlofiorella.com
Opinions my own
Pinned
gianfiorel - Twitch
Hi! I live in Toronto and I stream to raise funds for SickKids via ExtraLife! Here is my ExtraLife page: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/548667
www.twitch.tv
It's Tuesday and it's almost 7:00 PM here in Toronto, and that means that I'm about to start my charity fundraiser stream for SickKids Hospital via @extralife4kids.bsky.social!
Come hang out in the chat and consider donating for a great cause!
www.twitch.tv/gianfiorel
Come hang out in the chat and consider donating for a great cause!
www.twitch.tv/gianfiorel
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
In his weekly Deception Decoded segment on CTV News, Bellingcat's Director of Research and Training @giancarlofiorella.bsky.social explained our recent work investigating how Grok AI was being used to fabricate images related to the latest release of Epstein files. www.ctvnews.ca/video/decept...
'X' users asking Grok to unblur, fabricate images related to Epstein | Deception Decoded
Bellingcat Director of Research Giancarlo Fiorella explains how users are using Grok to un-redact images in the Epstein files and create fake ones.
www.ctvnews.ca
February 13, 2026 at 5:04 PM
In his weekly Deception Decoded segment on CTV News, Bellingcat's Director of Research and Training @giancarlofiorella.bsky.social explained our recent work investigating how Grok AI was being used to fabricate images related to the latest release of Epstein files. www.ctvnews.ca/video/decept...
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Last week I speculated that by the end of the year a majority of “helpful” Community Notes on X could be AI-generated.
To monitor this sorry milestone (and rate my forecasting abilities), I decided to build a free dashboard that tracks the share of AI notes. Check it out on @indicator.media
To monitor this sorry milestone (and rate my forecasting abilities), I decided to build a free dashboard that tracks the share of AI notes. Check it out on @indicator.media
Briefing: Tracking the AI takeover of Community Notes
Plus: Tools for counting crowd size and generating Google Dorks.
indicator.media
February 13, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Last week I speculated that by the end of the year a majority of “helpful” Community Notes on X could be AI-generated.
To monitor this sorry milestone (and rate my forecasting abilities), I decided to build a free dashboard that tracks the share of AI notes. Check it out on @indicator.media
To monitor this sorry milestone (and rate my forecasting abilities), I decided to build a free dashboard that tracks the share of AI notes. Check it out on @indicator.media
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Far-right Canadian separatists from the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) say they met three times with “very, very senior” Trump administration officials in 2025, with another meeting planned, - The Daily Beast
February 13, 2026 at 3:41 PM
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Far-right Canadian separatists from the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) say they met three times with “very, very senior” Trump administration officials in 2025, with another meeting planned, - The Daily Beast
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
We must never normalize these ongoing attacks by DHS agents on the people they supposedly protect.
Trump, Vance, Miller, & Noem have created a culture of impunity that has led to rampant abuse and killings.
Not one more dime for this lawlessness.
Trump, Vance, Miller, & Noem have created a culture of impunity that has led to rampant abuse and killings.
Not one more dime for this lawlessness.
February 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM
We must never normalize these ongoing attacks by DHS agents on the people they supposedly protect.
Trump, Vance, Miller, & Noem have created a culture of impunity that has led to rampant abuse and killings.
Not one more dime for this lawlessness.
Trump, Vance, Miller, & Noem have created a culture of impunity that has led to rampant abuse and killings.
Not one more dime for this lawlessness.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: “I was literally begging the agent who was holding me back to let me do CPR,” she told The Intercept.
The Woman Alex Pretti Was Killed Trying to Defend Is an EMT. Federal Agents Stopped Her From Giving First Aid.
One of the women Alex Pretti was killed trying to defend is an EMT. Federal agents stopped her from giving him first aid.
interc.pt
February 13, 2026 at 3:25 PM
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: “I was literally begging the agent who was holding me back to let me do CPR,” she told The Intercept.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
EXCLUSIVE: The Woman Alex Pretti Was Killed Trying to Defend Is an EMT. Federal Agents Stopped Her From Giving First Aid. theintercept.com/2026/02/13/a...
The Woman Alex Pretti Was Killed Trying to Defend Is an EMT. Federal Agents Stopped Her From Giving First Aid.
One of the women Alex Pretti was killed trying to defend is an EMT. Federal agents stopped her from giving him first aid.
theintercept.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:29 PM
EXCLUSIVE: The Woman Alex Pretti Was Killed Trying to Defend Is an EMT. Federal Agents Stopped Her From Giving First Aid. theintercept.com/2026/02/13/a...
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
I'm pretty sure I know. They aren't. We're not going to really be able to make a lot of progress in dealing with the implications of this tech unless and until we get rid of all this "woo-woo" talk about LLMs. Anthropic pushing this line is PR, unserious.
February 13, 2026 at 2:15 PM
I'm pretty sure I know. They aren't. We're not going to really be able to make a lot of progress in dealing with the implications of this tech unless and until we get rid of all this "woo-woo" talk about LLMs. Anthropic pushing this line is PR, unserious.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Wow: Meta has been working on plans to add facial recognition technology to its AI smart glasses. nyti.ms/3Os1oxf
And this was the company’s cynical view on when, and how, to do it:
And this was the company’s cynical view on when, and how, to do it:
February 13, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Wow: Meta has been working on plans to add facial recognition technology to its AI smart glasses. nyti.ms/3Os1oxf
And this was the company’s cynical view on when, and how, to do it:
And this was the company’s cynical view on when, and how, to do it:
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Disaster capitalism.
“We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns…”
“We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns…”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Disaster capitalism.
“We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns…”
“We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns…”
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Marimar Martinez was shot by Border Patrol five times.
DHS accused her of being a domestic terrorist.
She went to court to get the body cam footage released.
It shows Agent Charles Exum driving with his gun drawn.
Saying “do something b*tch”.
Ramming her car.
Shooting her.
It shows DHS lied.
DHS accused her of being a domestic terrorist.
She went to court to get the body cam footage released.
It shows Agent Charles Exum driving with his gun drawn.
Saying “do something b*tch”.
Ramming her car.
Shooting her.
It shows DHS lied.
February 12, 2026 at 5:14 AM
Marimar Martinez was shot by Border Patrol five times.
DHS accused her of being a domestic terrorist.
She went to court to get the body cam footage released.
It shows Agent Charles Exum driving with his gun drawn.
Saying “do something b*tch”.
Ramming her car.
Shooting her.
It shows DHS lied.
DHS accused her of being a domestic terrorist.
She went to court to get the body cam footage released.
It shows Agent Charles Exum driving with his gun drawn.
Saying “do something b*tch”.
Ramming her car.
Shooting her.
It shows DHS lied.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
This story about online speculation about the Tumbler Ridge shooter and fears of 'trans violence' has been the most read on the @thestar.com's website all day. The Star is trying a new thing where reporters answer Qs now in the comments, which I will be doing at 5ET. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
Inflammatory claims about Tumbler Ridge shooter identity surge as elected official claims ‘trans violence’
Far-right U.S. commentators have argued that transgender people commit a disproportionate share of crimes, a claim not borne out by statistics.
www.thestar.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:11 PM
This story about online speculation about the Tumbler Ridge shooter and fears of 'trans violence' has been the most read on the @thestar.com's website all day. The Star is trying a new thing where reporters answer Qs now in the comments, which I will be doing at 5ET. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Breaking WSJ:
The highly classified whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is related to a conversation intercepted last spring in which two foreign nationals discussed Jared Kushner, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The highly classified whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is related to a conversation intercepted last spring in which two foreign nationals discussed Jared Kushner, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
Gabbard Whistleblower Complaint Based on Intercepted Conversation About Jared Kushner
The substance of the conversation, which covered in part issues related to Iran, isn’t known.
www.wsj.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Breaking WSJ:
The highly classified whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is related to a conversation intercepted last spring in which two foreign nationals discussed Jared Kushner, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The highly classified whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is related to a conversation intercepted last spring in which two foreign nationals discussed Jared Kushner, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
New from 404 Media: we've confirmed cops are buying access to GeoSpy, an AI that can geolocate photos in seconds. Doesn't use metadata, but clues in the photo like soil, architecture, to pinpoint where social media photos taken. Being used in investigations www.404media.co/cops-are-buy...
Cops Are Buying ‘GeoSpy’, an AI That Geolocates Photos in Seconds
404 Media has obtained a cache of internal police emails showing at least two agencies have bought access to GeoSpy, an AI tool that analyzes architecture, soil, and other features to near instantly g...
www.404media.co
February 12, 2026 at 2:17 PM
New from 404 Media: we've confirmed cops are buying access to GeoSpy, an AI that can geolocate photos in seconds. Doesn't use metadata, but clues in the photo like soil, architecture, to pinpoint where social media photos taken. Being used in investigations www.404media.co/cops-are-buy...
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
This is the second account - the first being in Chicago - of DHS agents mass detaining people and then *sorting them by race*.
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 2:26 AM
This is the second account - the first being in Chicago - of DHS agents mass detaining people and then *sorting them by race*.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
CNN confirms what MSNBC reported live a few hours ago: DOJ is surveilling Dem lawmakers when they go to the DOJ to search unredacted Epstein files.
CNN: "Another photograph - these are notes AG Bondi brought to the hearing today. This shows a list of Rep. Jayapal's search history. Lawmakers are allowed to go to a DOJ facility to search unredacted files. We learned from this photo that the searches are apparently being tracked & read by the DOJ"
February 11, 2026 at 9:36 PM
CNN confirms what MSNBC reported live a few hours ago: DOJ is surveilling Dem lawmakers when they go to the DOJ to search unredacted Epstein files.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
In addition, CNN reports that “a source briefed by FAA tells the El Paso flight ban was driven by military operations from Biggs Army Air Field at Fort Bliss. The FAA acted after the Defense Department could not assure civilian flight safety.”
February 11, 2026 at 1:59 PM
In addition, CNN reports that “a source briefed by FAA tells the El Paso flight ban was driven by military operations from Biggs Army Air Field at Fort Bliss. The FAA acted after the Defense Department could not assure civilian flight safety.”
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
a society losing the plot in real time
February 10, 2026 at 9:11 PM
a society losing the plot in real time
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Like 75% of the US Olympic curlers are from Minnesota. A lot of them curl out of two clubs in Saint Paul, one club is in Frogtown, a neighborhood that has been very heavily targeted by ICE. These curlers are good neighbors.
US Olympic Curling Team member speaks out against ICE:
"I'm proud to represent Team USA. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention what's going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it's been. What's happening is wrong. There's no shades of gray."
"I'm proud to represent Team USA. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention what's going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it's been. What's happening is wrong. There's no shades of gray."
February 10, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Like 75% of the US Olympic curlers are from Minnesota. A lot of them curl out of two clubs in Saint Paul, one club is in Frogtown, a neighborhood that has been very heavily targeted by ICE. These curlers are good neighbors.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Our researcher @obtusatum.bsky.social will attempt to solve the latest Bellingcat Open Source Challenges live on Youtube tomorrow. Curious to see how he does? Join us here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=reDX...
February 10, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Our researcher @obtusatum.bsky.social will attempt to solve the latest Bellingcat Open Source Challenges live on Youtube tomorrow. Curious to see how he does? Join us here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=reDX...
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
[frantically raising hand] ooh, ooh. I know. Because Americans have a constitutional right to vote but don't have a right to open a bank account or drive a car.
Mike Johnson: "Americans need an ID to drive, to open a bank account, to buy cold medicine, to file govt assistance, even to attend the DNC. So why would voting be any different? They can't answer that question."
February 10, 2026 at 3:32 PM
[frantically raising hand] ooh, ooh. I know. Because Americans have a constitutional right to vote but don't have a right to open a bank account or drive a car.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
This is why journalism matters.
People were using Grok to unredact victims' photos from the latest Epstein release. We reached out to X (they didn't respond), but then over the weekend, Grok stopped responding to those requests.
People were using Grok to unredact victims' photos from the latest Epstein release. We reached out to X (they didn't respond), but then over the weekend, Grok stopped responding to those requests.
Since we reached out to X about Grok attempting to unredact photos of Epstein victims upon X users’ requests, we’ve noticed Grok now refusing to unredact new requests. Bellingcat researcher @koltai.bsky.social reports: www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
Epstein Files: X Users Are Asking Grok to 'Unblur' Photos of Children - bellingcat
Bellingcat reviewed dozens of requests for Grok to generate the faces of children and women that had been redacted from the latest documents.
www.bellingcat.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:54 PM
This is why journalism matters.
People were using Grok to unredact victims' photos from the latest Epstein release. We reached out to X (they didn't respond), but then over the weekend, Grok stopped responding to those requests.
People were using Grok to unredact victims' photos from the latest Epstein release. We reached out to X (they didn't respond), but then over the weekend, Grok stopped responding to those requests.
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
Since we reached out to X about Grok attempting to unredact photos of Epstein victims upon X users’ requests, we’ve noticed Grok now refusing to unredact new requests. Bellingcat researcher @koltai.bsky.social reports: www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
Epstein Files: X Users Are Asking Grok to 'Unblur' Photos of Children - bellingcat
Bellingcat reviewed dozens of requests for Grok to generate the faces of children and women that had been redacted from the latest documents.
www.bellingcat.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Since we reached out to X about Grok attempting to unredact photos of Epstein victims upon X users’ requests, we’ve noticed Grok now refusing to unredact new requests. Bellingcat researcher @koltai.bsky.social reports: www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Giancarlo Fiorella
This AJ article is wrong about explosions and explosives in several fundamental ways. This "phenomenon" the article mentions is due to the shock wave caused by the explosions, not due to the heat generated.
www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
February 10, 2026 at 4:21 PM
This AJ article is wrong about explosions and explosives in several fundamental ways. This "phenomenon" the article mentions is due to the shock wave caused by the explosions, not due to the heat generated.
www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
www.aljazeera.com/features/202...