Articles

Open source data reveals the devastation to critical infrastructure and services in Ukraine, with schools, hospitals and energy facilities among the buildings and structures damaged since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Since the 2021 coup, CIR’s Myanmar Witness project has been collecting and analysing data which shows cases of extreme violence and destruction throughout the country. According to Myanmar Witness’ findings, Myanmar’s central-northwestern Sagaing region is most heavily affected by the internal conflict, repeatedly showing the highest levels of violence in the entire country. This makes Sagaing the so-called “epicentre” of Myanmar’s conflict and a region facing an urgent humanitarian crisis. We explain:

On 1 February 2021, the military launched a coup d'état in Myanmar. Within hours, General Min Aung Hlaing seized power and arrested elected leaders, overthrowing Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal. It is the most significant breakthrough in 15 months of war – with the parties struggling to come to an agreement until now. We explain the key terms of the deal and why open source monitoring of the situation remains critical.

Videos shared on social media can provide vital evidence for open source investigators, but a clampdown on filming in some conflicts has resulted in less user-generated content surfacing. CIR explores the consequences.

In partnership with CIR, Croatian researchers have uncovered indications of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign utilising a large bot network ahead of the presidential run-off in Croatia.

Investigators verified over 1,300 incidents in total, using digital investigation techniques to verify destruction, violence and visible casualties using footage and images shared online, satellite imagery and other types of open source material. 

Over the past year the Eyes on Russia team at CIR has been monitoring videos and photographs, published online, claiming to show executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces. The number of cases emerging online has surged in recent months. In this open source investigation (OSINT) we show how each of the 80 deaths we have logged could potentially amount to a war crime under the Geneva convention.

Multiple videos show the men’s last moments, as they kneel or lie on the ground with their hands on their heads or behind their backs.  

Designed to forge a career path into the world of open source analysis, the Academy offers students the opportunity to gain new skills and collaborate with CIR projects on human rights investigations.

We speak to CIR Investigator 'Myla' about her investigations into sexual and gender-based violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel, and Lebanon

Working as an open source (OSINT) investigator at CIR is both challenging and rewarding. Each day brings new opportunities to uncover, verify, and report on critical information related to human rights violations and armed conflicts.

We spoke to Sofia and Erin to find out more about their day-to-day work and how they became investigators at CIR.