Benjamin Strick Profile picture
Dec 20, 2018 13 tweets 16 min read Read on X
In Jan 2018, Turkish forces launched Op Olive Branch in #Afrin which saw indiscriminate attacks killing "scores of civilians" & leaving more than 160K IDPs. In this open source case, we found a component of the offensive was Italian-made T129 ATAK helis. #ItalianArms Thread 👇
We investigated hours of video content to analyse the destructive use of the Italian T129 in #Syria's Afrin. Here @thomassmulder geolocated this video () - goo.gl/maps/K7nraY94K… 2/ ImageImage
This T129 firing in #Syria's #Afrin was part of an offensive which saw "vulnerable civilians facing displacement and death because of the way Turkey’s latest offensive is being conducted" - one which #Turkey's President Erdoğan declared 'a siege' that 'would cut external aid' 3/
The deal for the Italian-made Leonardo T129 combat helicopters was confirmed in 2008 and at least 10 of them were shipped to Turkey between then and 2017. #ItalianArms @LHreports jamestown.org/program/turkey… 4/ Image
In our social media dive @trbrtc and @LeoneHadavi at #ItalianArms were able to identify the characteristics of the T129, where they were used, and how often they were used. We could also see on @instagram that training was provided by #Italian pilots. @LHreports @bellingcat 5/
Another video we found showed the destructive capacity of this Italian-made weapon system as it fired into a possible YPG outpost. We were able to geolocate this video to Ma‘mal Ūshāghī in #Afrin, #Syria goo.gl/maps/Lya2SAsyc… #ItalianArms 6/
To find the location of this video (), we had clues in the footage: in the bottom right we have the military grid reference system (h/t @Timmi_Allen, @RawanSSA18 & @trbrtc), and in the top of the image we have an indication of direction. #ItalianArms 7/ Image
The T129 fired upon the buildings on this ridgeline (goo.gl/maps/BPoMVv2Aj…). @trbrtc found the rocky outcrop isn't represented on maps, but we can see the shadows it provides, which indicates its depth. To find more defined shadows, we can scroll back through @googleearth. 8/ ImageImage
By altering levels in the screenshots of the infrared video, we can analyse some of the components easily and identify straight, unnatural lines. In this case, they represent the outline of the buildings present on the crest on the mountain. #IMINT @bellingcat #ItalianArms 9/ Image
The results of this investigation we carried out as part open source workshop & part #EUArms investigation were published with Italian investigative media @reportrai3 (you can view in English here: ) 10/ #ItalianArms @LHreports
We still have to verify this video that we came across - which we suspect was also footage from #Afrin (TY for your prior efforts @AKMcKeever 🤓) #ItalianArms @bellingcat @LHreports 11/ ()
In this video, we also have some clues that would match its 'jigsaw piece' on @googleearth, namely, we can see the empty space, road, orchard and houses. If you are up for an open source challenge, give it a crack 🖖 #OSINT #ItalianArms @LHreports @bellingcat 12/ ImageImage
For the indication of direction, figures may represent a view that would point to 225 degrees. Accurate measurements can be made by downloading a transparent compass (google.com/url?sa=i&sourc…) and inserting it in GE as an image overlay. 13/ Image

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More from @BenDoBrown

Oct 10
Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay. As digital investigators we're often not experiencing what we see online, in real life, but it can still affect many.

So to keep doing the important documentation and investigative work online, here's a few practical steps you can take.👇
1. When sharing graphic content with colleagues and friends, remove those previews and give a little graphic warning indicator. There's always a little 'X' in the corner to remove preview. Image
2. Consider changing the settings on your social media platforms so you're not absorbing horrific content while doomscrolling. You don't have to filter it out, but at least stop the autoplay. Image
Read 10 tweets
Sep 18
I was recently on a flight across Australia when I spotted this massive figure on the ground. It led me on a digital journey to find out what it was, how it got there and who made it.

I'm going to explain a bit more about what it is in this thread, and how I found out. 👇🧵
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Without internet on the plane, I made a screenshot on my phone of the location (yes it was on flight mode) and later used flight tracking to pinpoint exactly where I saw it.

Using @flightradar24, I traced the path my plane took and found the spot!
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Next stop: @googleearth 🗺️

I zoomed into the area and there it was — this huge humanoid figure etched in the Australian outback. Measuring 2.7km tall and covering an area of more than 1.7 square kilometres, it's a sight to behold.

Here's the location: -29.527084, 137.465400
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Read 8 tweets
Sep 2
Despite our reporting last week on the fake network of pro-Trump MAGA accounts, there appears to be many more accounts actively posting the exact same content. This one, @brenda_otto_ with 18k+ followers, is stealing photos from an Australian Instagram model in Queensland.

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Here's another fake MAGA account, @Tracy_Miller044, stealing images from a fashion blogger (a popular one too).

@Tracy_Miller044 - if you want to reach out and talk about your work, why you're running these campaigns etc, I'm open.
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Here is @Sarah_Hickey__

Sarah is stealing the photos of a Czech Instagram influencer to create a persona claiming to be a MAGA republican conservative with 40k+ followers and a blue tick (which means it's apparently not misleading).

@Safety @GlobalAffairs @elonmusk
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Read 4 tweets
Aug 28
A network of fake accounts are posing as young American women, posting pro-Trump content and disinformation, but they’re hiding behind, and manipulating, the images of European fashion influencers.

Our latest investigation at @Cen4infoRes. Details in this thread 🧵👇 Image
Our full analysis can be seen at @Cen4infoRes here: . We also collaborated with @CNN to dig out the human stories behind those who had their photos stolen

Let's look at the some details below 👇info-res.org/post/unmasking…
edition.cnn.com/2024/08/28/eur…
One of the accounts is Eva. She lives in the US, and likes hanging out at the beach and posting to her 5000+ followers on X. Eva posts strong opinions against LGBTQ people and the US Democratic party and is a loyal supporter of former US president Donald Trump. Image
Read 21 tweets
Jul 9
Today US DoJ announced seizure of two domains and the search of 968 accounts on X used in a "Russian-government backed campaign" to spread disinformation.

Affidavit includes all of the accounts requested from X 👇

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The DoJ announcement said the campaign used elements of AI to create fictitious social media profiles purporting to belong to individuals in the United States, which the operators then used to promote messages in support of Russian government objectives. justice.gov/opa/pr/justice…
The affidavit for the accounts on X shows that all of the accounts were registered to email addresses that were either using the domain 'otanmail' or 'mlrtr' justice.gov/d9/2024-07/aff…
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Read 9 tweets
Jun 13
A new coordinated network of fake accounts pretending to be ‘Real Sikhs’ is targeting activists, stoking tensions and promoting Indian Govt narratives.

Who are they, what do they post, and how do they spread their campaign? Report:
Let's take a look 👇🧵 info-res.org/post/return-of…
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Before we start, it's important to note that this is not the first time we have exposed a network like this at @Cen4infoRes. In Nov 2021 we identified a similar network. But in the months after the accounts were removed, new accounts popped up.
In this new network, what we do know is the network of fake accounts posts content to undermine Sikh activists, stoke cultural tensions and promote Indian government narratives. But who are the accounts, and how are they posting so that we can catch future attempts?
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Read 15 tweets

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