Search
1 interview · 10 quotes
Conversations
Bellingcat is an independent investigative collective composed of researchers, investigators, and citizen journalists, all united by a shared fervour for open-source research. Established in 2014, the collective has blazed a trail in…
From the archive
What we managed to do was to bring these people together. I soon realized that human rights advocates, arms experts, and policy makers, despite their different fields, were all driven by the same curiosity and thirst for more information, each bringing their unique perspective to the table.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
If someone consistently films artillery strikes from their home, not only can we geolocate where the strikes are occurring, but we can also pinpoint the filmer's residence. If an unfriendly state actor would rather not have such footage made public, they could easily direct their artillery towards the identified filming location. This situation underscores the importance of witness protection.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
Open-source evidence is essentially public information available to anyone and can be traced back to its original source. We've always maintained transparency in our methodologies and the step-by-step processes we employ to validate an image or investigate. Thus, our work can be reverse engineered. If there are any flaws in our methodology, they're readily apparent.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
For instance, while AI can generate images that appear real, it cannot create convincing backgrounds that can be geolocated, since they do not correspond to actual places.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
This access has significantly altered what individuals and communities can accomplish, challenging traditional power dynamics. It's essentially a democratic revolution, wresting control from the conventional gatekeepers like intelligence agencies and the media.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
From around 2007 onwards, a new era dawned, marked by the widespread adoption of smartphones, essentially equipping every person with a sensor device. In tandem, social media platforms proliferated, facilitating incessant information sharing. Concurrently, Google services like Earth and Street View began to provide unprecedented access to geospatial data, granting us both the means and the method to verify a plethora of information.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
Open-source evidence is essentially public information available to anyone and can be traced back to its original source. We've always maintained transparency in our methodologies and the step-by-step processes we employ.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
If someone can take our findings and draw out additional insights, we consider it a triumph. Our aim is to constantly enhance our understanding of the world, and contributions from others are invaluable in this pursuit.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
For instance, while AI can generate images that appear real, it cannot create convincing backgrounds that can be geolocated, since they do not correspond to actual places.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
It's essentially a democratic revolution, wresting control from the conventional gatekeepers like intelligence agencies and the media.
— Eliot HigginsFounder of Bellingcat, open-source investigation journalism network
More conversations
