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Charley

@charleymaher.bsky.social

Social Editor at Bellingcat. Prev investigative reporter for BBC, TBIJ, Seen & many others... Professional account, working class journo. Thoughts are my own. Like discussing representation, accessibility, new tech , social impact and tackling disinfo.

3,346 Followers  |  160 Following  |  36 Posts  |  Joined: 11.02.2025
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Posts by Charley (@charleymaher.bsky.social)

Grok Users Are Attempting To Identify Epstein Victims
YouTube video by Bellingcat Grok Users Are Attempting To Identify Epstein Victims

Grok users prompted the AI chatbot to identify victims from redacted Epstein Files images. Of 31 requests reviewed, Grok generated images for 27, spanning 18 images and one video. X did not respond to requests for comment on Grok's behaviour by time of publication. www.youtube.com/shorts/dhD8O...

07.02.2026 15:54 β€” πŸ‘ 588    πŸ” 302    πŸ’¬ 26    πŸ“Œ 35
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Here is the User Guide for ELITE, the Tool Palantir Made for ICE 404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for ELITE, which lets ICE bring up dossiers on individual people and provides a β€œconfidence score” of their address.

New from 404 Media: here is the user guide for ELITE, the tool Palantir made for ICE. A map shows people on a map; ICE clicks them, brings up their dossier. ICE uses to find which neighborhoods to target. We obtained it, you can now read the document for yourself: www.404media.co/here-is-the-...

30.01.2026 14:51 β€” πŸ‘ 975    πŸ” 663    πŸ’¬ 19    πŸ“Œ 52
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Discord - Group Chat That’s All Fun & Games Discord is great for playing games and chilling with friends, or even building a worldwide community. Customize your own space to talk, play, and hang out.

For anyone interested in digging through the new Epstein Files release our Discord community are going through the files at the moment
Thread - discord.com/channels/709...
Invite link for newbies - discord.com/invite/belli...

30.01.2026 17:24 β€” πŸ‘ 564    πŸ” 226    πŸ’¬ 17    πŸ“Œ 15
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Satellite imagery helps you understand what’s happening on the ground, from above.

There are loads of free tools out there. Here are 6 I actually use (and what each is best for).

Thread πŸ‘‡πŸ›°οΈ

28.01.2026 10:10 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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Bellingcat has further analysed videos of the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents. The footage shows an agent wearing a black beanie step behind Pretti. His right arm then appears to recoil at the same time the first shot is heard.

28.01.2026 15:30 β€” πŸ‘ 970    πŸ” 383    πŸ’¬ 17    πŸ“Œ 25
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In Minneapolis and other U.S. cities, Bellingcat supplements local news by β€œzooming in with a forensic lens” Partnerships with local news outlets help "bring our stories to the audiences who need to see them most."

the work @bellingcat.com is doing in Minneapolis is essential. I spoke with @eoghanmacguire.bsky.social about the site's U.S. strategy

www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/in-m...

26.01.2026 23:34 β€” πŸ‘ 599    πŸ” 167    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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Guide: The β€˜Less-Lethal’ Weapons Used by the DHS Tear gas and PepperBall guns are among the weapons ICE and Border Patrol agents have been seen with at nationwide raids and protests related to immigration.

Pepperball guns, tasers and tear gas are among the weapons recently deployed against protesters in the US. In a new guide, @easybakeovensz.bsky.social details some of the β€œless-lethal” equipment federal agents have carried during the current immigration raids. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...

27.01.2026 16:12 β€” πŸ‘ 397    πŸ” 209    πŸ’¬ 14    πŸ“Œ 7
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Guide: The β€˜Less-Lethal’ Weapons Used by the DHS Tear gas and PepperBall guns are among the weapons ICE and Border Patrol agents have been seen with at nationwide raids and protests related to immigration.

NEW, from @easybakeovensz.bsky.social here at @bellingcat.com: A guide to the "less lethal" weapons used by DHS agents against protesters, observers, and bystanders in the US

www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...

27.01.2026 16:29 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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I grew up with Alex Pretti The kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend.

I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com

27.01.2026 16:45 β€” πŸ‘ 17316    πŸ” 6916    πŸ’¬ 502    πŸ“Œ 329
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Prison Yard Politics at California’s Fire Camps When these two groups get together, explosions can ensue.

This time last year, incarcerated firefighters were battling a series of destructive wildfires in Southern California.

Frank writes about the reality of serving time at fire camps β€” which allow for more freedom and benefits β€” but also blend two prison populations, which can be dangerous.

21.01.2026 20:13 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Keel - Daily Warship Guessing Game A daily challenge game for naval history enthusiasts. Identify warships from silhouettes in 5 guesses or less.

One of the Bellingcat Discord members has made Wordle, but for identifying warships
keel-fawn.vercel.app

20.01.2026 10:47 β€” πŸ‘ 455    πŸ” 108    πŸ’¬ 24    πŸ“Œ 18

We’ve annotated this satellite imagery from January 20th to show the proximity of where the journalists using a drone were killed to the displacement camps and the nearest IDF outposts in Gaza. The Yellow Line is where Israeli troops withdrew to following the US-brokered deal with Hamas.

21.01.2026 19:08 β€” πŸ‘ 262    πŸ” 130    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 4

we're getting all the downsides of cyberpunk (social alienation, ruthless hyper capitalism, digital mass surveillance state) but none of the promised upsides (cheap street food, cool jackets, super drugs that make you really fast and strong before they kill you)

20.01.2026 21:25 β€” πŸ‘ 9478    πŸ” 2267    πŸ’¬ 257    πŸ“Œ 170
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New footage from the ICE agent's phone who shot at Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis has emerged, posted by AlphaNews on X. We've placed that footage in a synced timeline with the other currently available footage.

09.01.2026 21:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1546    πŸ” 581    πŸ’¬ 53    πŸ“Œ 80
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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.

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 utopia… www.bellingcat.com/uncategorize...

14.11.2025 11:18 β€” πŸ‘ 431    πŸ” 211    πŸ’¬ 14    πŸ“Œ 22
October planet imagery showing the east wing demolished

October planet imagery showing the east wing demolished

September planet imagery showing the east wing before work took place

September planet imagery showing the east wing before work took place

New satellite images show the scale of demolition that has occurred on the East Wing of the White House in less than a month.

23.10.2025 19:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1244    πŸ” 565    πŸ’¬ 57    πŸ“Œ 110

Wow amazing work.

08.10.2025 17:16 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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NEW: Since October 2023, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit has released dozens of 3D animations illustrating alleged Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian sites

The style is now unmistakable: satellite zoom-ins, black & white wireframes, and red-textured houses - a new visual language of war

08.10.2025 16:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1852    πŸ” 824    πŸ’¬ 27    πŸ“Œ 182
Can ChatGPT Find Out Where Your Photo Was Taken?
YouTube video by Bellingcat Can ChatGPT Find Out Where Your Photo Was Taken?

Can LLMs identify where a photo was taken? And how accurate are they? We put some AI models to the test...
www.youtube.com/shorts/tUBm4...

30.09.2025 10:46 β€” πŸ‘ 86    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 2

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...

30.09.2025 16:09 β€” πŸ‘ 252    πŸ” 103    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
Stage talk Thursday 9th of October, 5pm CEST/11am EDT discord.com/invite/bellingcat 

Title: Student Researchers vs the Misinformation Machine

Stage talk Thursday 9th of October, 5pm CEST/11am EDT discord.com/invite/bellingcat Title: Student Researchers vs the Misinformation Machine

Universities may hold the key to fighting misinformation... On Thursday we speak to @utrechtuniversity.bsky.social about their Open-Source Global Justice Investigations Lab discussing how the lab is building critical thinking skills and leading to headline stories.
discord.gg/bellingcat?e...

06.10.2025 10:40 β€” πŸ‘ 155    πŸ” 55    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 1

Had both the great privilege and some great fun developing some maritime OSINT challenges for the fine folks at @bellingcat.com !

Huge appreciation for their work and other investigative outlets telling the important stories happening on our oceans.

06.10.2025 12:53 β€” πŸ‘ 61    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Elon Musk Leads Campaign To Force Netflix To Remove Shows With Trans Characters Musk's posts have been seen by tens of millions of users, and many conservatives are now attempting to force Netflix into a removal of LGBTQ+ content.

1. Led by Elon Musk, the far-right has exploded in a campaign to get Netflix to remove shows with queer and trans characters.

If Netflix capitulates to their demands, an already strained market for LGBTQ+ animators might become even more dire.

Subscribe to support our journalism.

02.10.2025 17:46 β€” πŸ‘ 3278    πŸ” 1387    πŸ’¬ 182    πŸ“Œ 317

Our researcher @koltai.bsky.social has been investigating sites advertising non-consensual AI porn for some time. She recently spoke to @newamerica.org about her work for their recent report on the use of this imagery as a threat against women in politics.

23.09.2025 12:44 β€” πŸ‘ 117    πŸ” 52    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 3
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Incendiary Munitions Strike Gaza-bound Flotilla Two Nights in a Row - bellingcat On September 8 and 9, two vessels of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) were attacked outside the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. Bellingcat analysed footage and images from both incidents. ...

Read our full analysis here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/09...

11.09.2025 07:55 β€” πŸ‘ 136    πŸ” 56    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 5
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What struck the Gaza Aid Flotilla? After we published the story, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior issued a statement describing the incident β€œthat took place yesterday” as a β€œpremeditated attack” stating that an investigation had been launched.”

11.09.2025 07:55 β€” πŸ‘ 477    πŸ” 187    πŸ’¬ 10    πŸ“Œ 17

This could suggest more violence or serious detention is on the way for those within the flotilla movement as they get closer to Gaza.

11.09.2025 07:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Israeli news sites are also leading with a network map that doesn't appear to be in the report. Source: YNetNews

11.09.2025 07:58 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

It appears the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism is now claiming Hamas is behind the Global Sumud Flotilla efforts.
www.gov.il/en/pages/glo...

11.09.2025 07:58 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Reports of an attack, allegedly by a drone, on a vessel in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), while anchored outside the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. The below video shows the moment of the incident. Keep it in mind when you read the next post. www.instagram.com/reel/DOXaR_M...

09.09.2025 07:27 β€” πŸ‘ 1094    πŸ” 607    πŸ’¬ 36    πŸ“Œ 90