Articles

With international media unable to report on the ground from Iran, social media and other open sources provide critical insight into the unfolding situation – but AI images and misinformation are also widespread.

Russia has occupied parts of Ukraine for over ten years. CIR and Detector Media explore the tactics used by the occupying authorities to mobilise and recruit.

In March 2025, a wave of extreme violence and revenge killings swept through Alawite strongholds of Syria. Unarmed civilians, including women and children, were among the victims.

Designed as a resource for researchers, journalists, and the public, the new hub aims to raise awareness and increase access to gender-focused, open source research on a range of countries and contexts.

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.

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.

In protests that began against job quotas and ended with the ousting of the government, footage filmed on the streets reveals a disproportionate level of violence by police officers and military personnel.

A network of fake accounts are posing as young American women and posting pro-Trump content online, but they’re hiding behind – and in some cases manipulating – the images of European fashion influencers.

Afghan Witness data shows ISKP attacks have decreased inside Afghanistan, but reports highlight an uptick in linked activities and arrests outside the country amid an intensifying multi-lingual online campaign that draws recruits from Central Asia.

When news breaks, misinformation can spread like wildfire. Stefanie Le, a senior CIR investigator based in Washington DC, discusses the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, the online misinformation that surrounded it, and how to use open source methods to try to make sense of it all.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saw forces attempt to occupy not only land but minds.