Connor Plunkett
@conplnk.bsky.social
đ€ 393
đ„ 91
đ 8
Investigator
@bellingcat.com
Signal username: conp.121
reposted by
Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
2 days ago
Bellingcatâs 2026 wonât be possible without you. Your generous support makes our investigations possible. Hereâs what weâll be focusing on in the year ahead.
www.bellingcat.com/donate
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Connor Plunkett
ICIJ
7 days ago
Only a few hours left donate in 2025. Each time you engage with our work, you help ensure these stories donât fade into silence. But attention alone doesnât fund the reporting. Please consider making a year-end gift to support investigative journalism:
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International Consortium of Investigative Journalists - ICIJ
We work together with investigative journalists around the globe to investigate the most important stories in the world.
https://buff.ly/HlghKCe
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
16 days ago
Bellingcatâs work in 2025 verified war crimes, exposed deepfake abuse, and challenged disinformation. We want to uncover wrongdoing. We can with your support:
www.bellingcat.com/donate
This is how we cut through the digital noise to tell stories that matter.
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Malachy Browne
16 days ago
Take 25 minutes to watch the "turn and burn" tactics used in U.S. raids targeting migrants and citizens alike -- meticulously reconstructed by
@robinsteinnyt.bsky.social
@devonlum.bsky.social
@ajcardia.bsky.social
& more.
www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
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Video: How âTurn and Burnâ Immigration Operations Unleash Chaos â and Sweep up U.S. Citizens
A video analysis of one early morning raid in Los Angeles revealed the vast web of consequences brought by new aggressive Border Patrol tactics.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000010596053/la-raid-immigration-us-citizens-video-investigation.html
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
23 days ago
Bellingcatâs
@koltai.bsky.social
uncovers the Hungarian national behind two deepfake porn websites. The key figure rakes in profits and vacations in luxury hotels in Dubai and Bali, whilst website visitors create sexually explicit images and videos.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
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How We Found the Man Behind Two Deepfake Porn Sites
Business documents, website code and leaked data all led us back to one person profiting off non-consensual sexual imagery of women.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/15/mark-resan-reface-deepfake-porn/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
26 days ago
An investigation by Bellingcat and Lloydâs List found that Saudi Arabia joined the countries importing grain directly from a sanctioned port in occupied Crimea. Meanwhile Russia attempts to secure recognition of the Ukrainian territory via a US-led peace plan.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
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Russiaâs Smuggled Grain Finds New Market in Saudi Arabia - bellingcat
New grain route identified from sanctioned Crimean port that Russia is eyeing in latest peace deal.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/12/russia-ukraine-saudi-arabia-import-smuggled-grain-shadow-fleet-peace-deal-trump-occupied-crimea-petrokhleb-kuban/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
29 days ago
How do investigators turn raw trade data into real stories? Bellingcatâs Katherine de Tolly uncovers hidden supply chains, red flags in import-export records, and key pitfalls in trade-data investigations. Search 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' on podcast platforms:
rss.com/podcasts/bel...
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âDigging for Gold in Import-Export Dataâ with Bellingcat's Katherine de Tolly | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
In the final Stage Talk of the year, we learnt the mechanics of investigating trade data thanks to this week's guest, Bellingcat research consultant and self-confessed data nerd Katherine de Tolly. Us...
https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2376416
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Connor Plunkett
Beau Donelly
about 1 month ago
Thrilled that our
@bellingcat.com
investigation "Unmasking MrDeepFakes" has been shortlisted in the 2025 Fetisov Journalism Awards (Contribution to Civil Rights category). In collaboration with @tjekdet.dk,
@politiken.dk
& the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
fjawards.com/events/%2Fsh...
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Fetisov Journalism Awards
Journalismâs richest prize, celebrating world class reporting in a global campaign for public interest news and information
https://fjawards.com/events/%2Fshortlist2025
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
about 1 month ago
Life in Bamako, the capital of Mali, has been brought to a standstill after a jihadist organisation launched a series of attacks on inbound fuel convoys. Bellingcat has verified six attacks since September, which together have damaged more than 130 fuel tankers.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12...
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Mali Under Siege: Tracking the Fuel Blockade Crippling Bamako - bellingcat
Attacks by a jihadist group on fuel convoys bound for Bamako, the capital of Mali, have destroyed more than 130 tankers since September, a Bellingcat investigation has found. The systematic attacks b...
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/12/03/mali-under-siege-tracking-the-fuel-blockade-crippling-bamako/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Steve Brewer
about 2 months ago
Ireland winning goal and end of match with Irish commentary
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
about 2 months ago
Streets have been renamed, Ukrainian monuments removed, and murals painted over. Bellingcat investigates how apartment blocks in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol have been demolished to make way for a new Russian suburban utopiaâŠ
www.bellingcat.com/uncategorize...
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Building on Ruins: The Russification of Mariupol, One Apartment Block at a Time - bellingcat
Bellingcat has identified 23 multi-storey housing complexes being built in occupied Mariupol and advertised for sale to Russian citizens.
https://www.bellingcat.com/uncategorized/2025/11/14/building-on-ruins-the-russification-of-mariupol-one-apartment-block-at-a-time/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Chris Osieck
2 months ago
The FBI has subpoenaed the domain registrar of
archive.today
, demanding information about the owner.
www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to...
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FBI Tries to Unmask Owner of Infamous Archive.is Site
The FBI has subpoenaed the domain registrar of archive.today, demanding information about the owner.
https://www.404media.co/fbi-tries-to-unmask-owner-of-infamous-archive-is-site/
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
2 months ago
We mapped Operation Midway Blitz in Illinois with
@evidentmedia.org
. A federal judge will hold a hearing today (November 5th) on whether a temporary restraining order restricting crowd-control tactics in Illinois should be converted into a preliminary injunction.
youtube.com/shorts/HKXEY...
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Mapping Midway Blitz in Illinois
YouTube video by Bellingcat
https://youtube.com/shorts/HKXEYz_c2Jk?feature=share
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Eliot Higgins
2 months ago
New from Bellingcat: ââPattern of Extreme Brutalityâ â Tear gas, pepper balls among weapons used by federal agents at Illinois immigration protests.â Read the full investigation:
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
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Tear Gas, Pepper Balls Among Weapons Deployed Against Illinois Protesters
A judge recently issued a restraining order on crowd-control tactics by federal agents in the state, including those involved in Operation Midway Blitz.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10/31/illinois-immigration-protests/
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Ed Caesar
3 months ago
I wrote about Daniel Kinahan and his family for
@newyorker.com
. The story features boxers, assassins, Hezbollah, a billion-dollar cocaine empire, the Open University, and a debonair gangster in a prison in Rome who is singing like a canary...
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
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The Cocaine Kingpin Living Large in Dubai
Daniel Kinahan, an Irish drug dealer, commands a billion-dollar empire from the U.A.E. Why isnât he in prison?
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/10/27/the-cocaine-kingpin-living-large-in-dubai
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
3 months ago
Satellite analysis by Bellingcat found that wildfires destroyed over a third of Namibiaâs most visited wildlife reserve last month, impacting crucial grazing lands for endangered species, including black rhinos and elephants.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10...
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Wildfires Ravage One of Africaâs Largest Nature Reserves - bellingcat
Satellite analysis of the Etosha wildfires in Namibia has found that more than a third of the nature reserve was burned.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/10/07/wildfires-ravage-one-of-africas-largest-nature-reserves/
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
3 months ago
We're happy to see that this important project covering the plight of journalists in Gaza has been recognised with an award. You can read Bellingcat's contribution here, which includes explorable 3D models of Jabalia Refugee Camp and Al-Shati Refugee Camp.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/03...
add a skeleton here at some point
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Peter Barth
3 months ago
Our latest on the Kinahan Cartel
@conplnk.bsky.social
@beaudonelly.bsky.social
@johnmooneyirl.bsky.social
add a skeleton here at some point
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
3 months ago
A small plane crashed in Brazil recently; amongst the wreckage was the body of a former Melbourne stockbroker and 200kg of cocaine. Bellingcat and
@thetimes.com
reveal how the deceased Australian pilot was linked to an associate of the notorious Kinahan cartel:
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09...
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Australian Cocaine Pilot Killed in Brazil Plane Crash Linked to Kinahan Drug Cartel - bellingcat
An Australian pilot who died when his plane crashed in Brazil during a failed drug run has links to an alleged Kinahan cartel associate who is facing drugs charges in Western Australia.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09/27/australian-cocaine-pilot-killed-in-brazil-plane-crash-linked-to-kinahan-drug-cartel/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
4 months ago
Israeli forces continue to push into Gaza City, but in recent days important historical and cultural sites have also been further damaged by IDF operations across Gaza. Many of these sites held unexplored archaeological data that could now be lost đ§”
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
4 months ago
Our researcher
@conplnk.bsky.social
appears in this new Frontal video by German broadcaster ZDF discussing our investigation into the networks advertising powerful synthetic opioids to the general public.
youtu.be/F7YFeTLBgN8?...
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How to BUY Drugs online (fast) | frontal
YouTube video by frontal
https://youtu.be/F7YFeTLBgN8?feature=shared&t=711
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
4 months ago
Finding key information shared at council meetings takes time and effort. Today, we've launched a tool that allows you to search verbatim quotes from council meetings in the UK and Ireland, without the need to watch long recordings or sift through extensive notes.
council-search.bellingcat.com
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Bellingcat Council Meeting Transcript Search
Find verbatim quotes from council meetings in the UK and Ireland using this free open source research tool by Bellingcat.
https://council-search.bellingcat.com/
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
5 months ago
We thought it was time we introduced ourselves... From a global crisis to an underreported event, we find the facts using publicly available resources. By detailing our methods, we invite you to explore, replicate, and contribute to investigations. Find out more:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyQy...
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What is Bellingcat?
YouTube video by Bellingcat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyQyHt4LNKM
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
5 months ago
Our very own
@oldpete45.bsky.social
appeared on The Underworld Podcast this week discussing his investigation into the cold case murder of a Texas oilman and his circle of gambling, sharpshooting friends.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS3x...
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Dixie Mafia's Texas Millionaire Murders
YouTube video by The Underworld Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS3xayGbMBE
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
5 months ago
In May, we, alongside CBC's Visual Investigation Unit,
@tjekdet.dk
and
@politiken.dk
revealed the identity of the key administrator behind one of the largest AI porn sites. Dutch politicians across political parties are now calling for the Canadian to be extradited.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
add a skeleton here at some point
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
5 months ago
Two months have passed since we last tested AI models against our geolocation skillsets. Within that time more advanced models like GPT-5 and Google AI mode have launched. So
@foeke.bsky.social
is back again to put the chatbots to workâŠ
www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...
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LLMs vs. Geolocation: GPT-5 performs worse than other AI models - bellingcat
Bellingcat challenged the latest modelsâGrok, GPT and Geminiâon geolocation tasks, revealing GPT-5 as a clear downgrade.
https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2025/08/14/llms-vs-geolocation-gpt-5-performs-worse-than-other-ai-models/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
5 months ago
More than 40 people have been confirmed dead, and 80,000 residents have been evacuated across Beijing due to widespread flooding. Bellingcat used public sources to begin to track the damage.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08...
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What Can Open Sources Reveal About Beijingâs Deadly Floods? - bellingcat
After days of torrential rain and more than 40 people confirmed dead, what can open sources tell us about the damage in China's capital?
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08/08/strongwhat-can-open-sources-reveal-about-beijings-deadly-floods-strong/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Peter Barth
5 months ago
Awesome work by
@georgekatz.bsky.social
and
@conplnk.bsky.social
on Chinese fentanyl smuggling networks running out of Japan, who use âRussian Doll-like setups involving multiple companies sharing the same contact details, salespeople, advertisements and website layouts.â
add a skeleton here at some point
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Connor Plunkett
George Katz
5 months ago
Pleased to have our latest piece in collaboration with
@nikkei.com
finally out. Thanks to
@beaudonelly.bsky.social
@conplnk.bsky.social
and
@merelzoet.bsky.social
add a skeleton here at some point
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
5 months ago
Bellingcat, in collaboration with
@nikkei.com
, uncovered a Chinese fentanyl smuggling networkâs operations in Japan. Read our full investigation here:
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08...
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A Chinese Fentanyl Smuggling Networkâs Footprints in Japan - bellingcat
Bellingcat, in collaboration with the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, uncovered a Chinese fentanyl smuggling network's operations in Japan.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/08/07/a-chinese-fentanyl-smuggling-networks-footprints-in-japan/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Jake Godin
5 months ago
Sadly new SkySat imagery from
@planet.com
shows that even more graves at the Commonwealth Gaza War Cemetery ran by
@cwgc.bsky.social
have been destroyed by the IDF. Parts of Sections A, B, XXV, XVII, XVIII and XXVI appear to have been completely bulldozed with the creation of dirt berms on July 27.
add a skeleton here at some point
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Jake Godin
5 months ago
A massive crowd of Palestinians surrounding aid trucks is visible in July 26 SkySat imagery from @planet.com near the so-called Morag Corridor at 31.3104, 34.2822 in southern Gaza. July 26 video from Ibrahim Alsallout on Instagram showed the crowd from the ground:
www.instagram.com/p/DMkmVvNo6n...
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Connor Plunkett
Peter Barth
6 months ago
This is probably my favorite coverage of our
@conplnk.bsky.social
@johnmooneyirl.bsky.social
@beaudonelly.bsky.social
story about Christopher Kinahanâs online habits so far. Phoebe Judge and co. are some of the best crime podcasters out there week after week:
thisiscriminal.com/episode-307-...
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Episode 307: Five Stars (3.7.2025)
âChristopher Kinahan is probably the most successful and entrepreneurial criminal that Ireland has ever produced.â
https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-307-five-stars-3-7-2025
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Connor Plunkett
Evident Media
6 months ago
Together with partners at
@bellingcat.com
and
@calmatters.org
we collected videos of over 100 incidents of DHS operations between June 6 and June 30, picking out what appear to be recurring trends and tactics used by officers in and around Los Angeles.
youtu.be/6BuxaVdv7po?...
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Masked, Armed, Forceful: Finding Patterns in California Immigration Raids
YouTube video by Evident Media
https://youtu.be/6BuxaVdv7po?si=dgTqdAMoslIC43so
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
6 months ago
Armed officers, frequent use of force and people grabbed on the street or at their places of work. Working with
@evidentmedia.org
and
@calmatters.org
we have monitored the LA raids, discovering recurring trends and tactics used by officers.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07...
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Masked, Armed and Forceful: Finding Patterns in Los Angeles Immigration Raids - bellingcat
Bellingcat collected videos and images from recent immigration raids in Los Angeles, analysing trends and apparent tactics used by law enforcement.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/07/08/masked-armed-and-forceful-finding-patterns-in-los-angeles-immigration-raids/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
6 months ago
Weâre back with a new series of open source challenges! Bellingcat researcher
@oldpete45.bsky.social
created five exercises that allow you to uncover some dark secrets buried in time. Welcome to a world of forgotten files, and (confusing) historic maps! âĄïž
challenge.bellingcat.com
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
6 months ago
Johnny Harris & Sam Ellisâ Search Party dives into the murky world of online sports betting with Bellingcat and Josimar; uncovering the bizarre amateur games played around the clock
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4f5...
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The dystopian future of sports
YouTube video by Search Party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4f52yoExJE
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
8 months ago
We're overjoyed to see our documentary produced in partnership with the
@evidentmedia.org
team âIn Real Life: A Hidden War,â has been nominated for two News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
7 months ago
Letâs take a look back at Bellingcatâs 2024. What did we investigate, how did we ensure our work created impact, and what lessons are we taking into the future? Find out in our latest Annual Report:
www.bellingcat.com/app/uploads/...
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
7 months ago
On its website Crushmate claimed to specialise in âcrafting an AI girl of your dreamsâ, but on social ads it promoted a tool for making nonconsensual nude images of real women.
@koltai.bsky.social
&
@melzxy.bsky.social
pull back the layers of the âCrushAIâ network.
www.bellingcat.com/news/america...
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New Companies Linked to 'Nudify' Apps That Ran Ads on Facebook, Instagram
Meta is suing Joy Timeline HK Limited, the entity it says is behind the CrushAI apps. But Bellingcat has linked these apps to two other companies.
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/americas/2025/06/18/meta-crushai-crushmate-deepfake-nudify-apps/?utm_source=bluesky
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Connor Plunkett
Foeke Postma
7 months ago
We ran 500 tests and: LLMs are quickly passing the threshold of being the most useful tool out there, if you're looking for the location of a photo from scratch.
add a skeleton here at some point
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
7 months ago
We all know AI models can now create realistic images and videos but how do they fare at identifying where a real image was taken? Bellingcat researchers have put Large Language Models to the test:
www.bellingcat.com/resources/ho...
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Have LLMs Finally Mastered Geolocation? - bellingcat
We tasked LLMs from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Mistral and xAI to geolocate our unpublished holiday snaps. Here's how they did.
https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2025/06/06/have-llms-finally-mastered-geolocation/?utm_source=bluesky
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John Mooney
7 months ago
Just published this investigation. How Ireland became the puppy farm capital of the world
#puppy
#puppyfarming
#animalwelfare
www.thetimes.com/article/10cf...
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How Ireland became the puppy farm capital of the world
Unscrupulous and licensed breeders alike are cashing in on a global demand for designer and pedigree dogs, with pets being shipped as far as Europe and Asia
https://www.thetimes.com/article/10cff51f-ae82-4052-9f55-8f937284c0a5?shareToken=87b71b2c16f9a783b4acc0b9ffb62e04
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Connor Plunkett
Philippe Auclair
7 months ago
First and foremost: thank you. We've accrued over 450 new subscribers since Monday, and many of you have donated as well. But we're still a long way from our objective, and the clock is ticking. Please help spread the word to save
@josimarfootball.bsky.social
. đ
josimarfootball.com/2025/06/05/a...
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A letter from Philippe Auclair - josimarfootball.com
The reality we at Josimar face is stark. Should we fail to raise ⏠50k by 1 July, the world's only investigative media dedicated solely to football will cease to exist.
https://josimarfootball.com/2025/06/05/a-letter-from-philippe-auclair/
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Philippe Auclair
7 months ago
Link to updated 'DONATE' page if any of you has experienced problems (in which case, thank you for trying, and apologies!)
www.paypal.com/donate/?host...
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Donate to Dype Skoger AS
Help support Dype Skoger AS by donating or sharing with your friends.
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=684SM5CULFGY4
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!! Support good journalism, don't let Josimar go under đ
add a skeleton here at some point
7 months ago
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Connor Plunkett
Bellingcat
7 months ago
Murder, mafia, gambling and pigeons?! How open source research methods helped to unravel a 53 year-old cold case murder... with
@oldpete45.bsky.social
and
@texasobserver.org
youtu.be/TZcWblhJc_k
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Cold Case Reopened - The Forgotten murder of an Texas Oil Baron
YouTube video by Bellingcat
https://youtu.be/TZcWblhJc_k
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Connor Plunkett
ICIJ
7 months ago
As he rose to become a cartel godfather, Christopher Kinahan Sr. wrote and edited poetry and prose under a pen name as part of a high-security prisonersâ writing group that included a killer with mystical pretensions. Read the story:
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How a dark reimagining of 'Dumbo the Elephant' shaped the business dealings of an Irish drug lord - ICIJ
Decades before Christopher Kinahan Sr. fled to Dubai, he dabbled in prison poetry and prose alongside some of Irelandâs most notorious criminals â including remorseless killer Dessie O'Hare.
https://buff.ly/pHQ8j3W
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Peter Barth
7 months ago
My latest. I heard about this growing up and spent the last few years seeing what FOIAs, interviews, and archives can tell us. Itâs a glimpse into the murky, ruthless underworld of 1970s Texas. Grateful for my brilliant editors
@gycsak.bsky.social
@liseolsen.bsky.social
@beaudonelly.bsky.social
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Must-read đ. Years of meticulous research from my brilliant colleague Peter Barth
@oldpete45.bsky.social
that uncovers new details in a cold-case murder. What a story, and a masterclass in using open sources to investigate cold casesđ„
add a skeleton here at some point
7 months ago
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