Bellingcat: An Intelligence Agency for the People with Eliot Higgins
· 58 min · Episode 657
Episode Bellingcat: An Intelligence Agency for the People with Eliot Higgins
Summary
Eliot Higgins (X; Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the work of Bellingcat. Eliot founded the open-source investigative website in 2014.
What You’ll Learn Intelligence
• Bellingcat’s approach to “investigative journalism” • The rise of OSINT as a tool of journalism • Bellingcat’s relationship with intelligence agencies • Case studies from Bellingcat’s past, including the Skripal Case and the MH17 flight investigation
Reflections
• Leading by example • Accessibility and accountability
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“When I first started doing this work ... I would present geolocation and stuff on stage. The reaction was like I was doing magic tricks, but my point was that. This isn't magic – This is something that you can do and recreate and understand.” - Eliot Higgins.
Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts*
• Digital Innovation and the Next Frontier of Intelligence with Jennifer Ewbank (2024) • The Future of OSINT and the Intelligence Community with Jason Barrett (2024) • U.S. Army Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) with Dennis Eger & Shawn Nilius (2024) • Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023)
DEEPER DIVE Books
• OSINT Techniques: Resources for Uncovering Online Information, M. Bazzell (2023) • Deep Dive: Exploring the Real-world Value of Open Source Intelligence, R. L. Baker (Wiley, 2023) • We Are Bellingcat: The Online Sleuths Solving Global Crimes, E. Higgins (Bloomsbury, 2022)
Primary Sources
• Map of Civilian Harm in Ukraine (2024) • Death of Sinwar Report (2024) • The IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026 (2024) • DoS Open Source Intelligence Strategy (2024) • MH17 Investigation (2019) • Skripal Report (2018)
*Wildcard Resource*
• The fable of Belling the Cat • The inspiration behind Bellingcat’s name, the moral of this story is simple – It’s one thing to suggest a solution or idea, but it’s a whole other beast to actually take action.
Links in the notes 14
- https://x.com/EliotHiggins
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Higgins
- https://twitter.com/spyhistorian
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-hammond-09344936/
- https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/spycast/653/notes
- https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/spycast/651/notes
- https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/spycast/637/notes
- https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/spycast/576/notes
- https://ukraine.bellingcat.com/
- https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/IC_OSINT_Strategy.pdf
- https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/INR-Open-Source-Intelligence-Strategy.pdf
- https://www.bellingcat.com/app/uploads/2019/06/a-birdie-is-flying-towards-you.pdf
- https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2018/10/09/full-report-skripal-poisoning-suspect-dr-alexander-mishkin-hero-russia/
- https://fablesofaesop.com/belling-the-cat.html
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