Stage Talks with Bellingcat

"Reporting On Hidden Networks Of Online Abuse" with CNN

This week we spoke to the CNN team behind the investigation into the porn site Motherless. Anonymous accounts. Private chat groups. Hidden online communities. We unpacked how reporters gained access to these spaces, spoke with users sharing intimate imagery of people they knew, and navigated the challenges of reporting in communities designed to stay hidden. It's a conversation about newsroom resources, risk assessment, digital safety, and the realities of reporting where others aren't looking. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on June 11th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] TW: Discussion of sexual assault and abuse Links: CNN's Motherless Investigation: https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2026/03/world/expose-rape-assault-online-vis-intl/index.html [https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2026/03/world/expose-rape-assault-online-vis-intl/index.html] Full As Equals series: https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/asequals/ [https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/asequals/] Pelicot investigation (one piece by CNN of many): https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2024/12/europe/gisele-pelicot-france-case-messages/ [https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2024/12/europe/gisele-pelicot-france-case-messages/] NY Times article hiding CSAM: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/09/us/internet-child-sex-abuse.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pVA.dz84.Qj8Ln4P6btpe&smid=nytcore-android-share [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/09/us/internet-child-sex-abuse.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pVA.dz84.Qj8Ln4P6btpe&smid=nytcore-android-share] Berkeley Protocol https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2024-01/OHCHR_BerkeleyProtocol.pdf [https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2024-01/OHCHR_BerkeleyProtocol.pdf] Talk by Alexa Koenig on GBV investigation https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/1908244/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/1908244/] Discord discussion space for investigations into Gender Based Violence And Misogyny: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1118448280435687506 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1118448280435687506] Discord discussion space for investigations into anti LGBTQI+ messaging: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1199853259742003300 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1199853259742003300] Maintain mental hygiene as a researcher: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/] Reporting on gender based violence: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/03/03/sexual-and-gender-based-violence-open-source-researche-osint-digital/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/03/03/sexual-and-gender-based-violence-open-source-researche-osint-digital/]

"Monitoring Violence In Myanmar" with Bellingcat's Pooja Chaudhuri

This week we spoke to Bellingcat's Pooja Chaudhuri about the ongoing violence in Myanmar. After tracking developments in Rakhine State for three years, Pooja has recently published a longitudinal data analysis of what has happened to the villages and townships disappearing off government maps. Within the talk, she guides us through this work and the obstacles faced in order to monitor this difficult to access region. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on May 28th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: Her 2026 report: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/05/27/the-lost-villages-of-myanmars-rakhine/?utm_source=rss [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/05/27/the-lost-villages-of-myanmars-rakhine/?utm_source=discord] Her previous reporting: 2024: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/06/05/myanmar-military-territorial-losses-war-conflict-human-rights-burma/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/06/05/myanmar-military-territorial-losses-war-conflict-human-rights-burma/] 2025: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/04/29/open-sources-show-myanmar-junta-airstrike-damages-despite-post-earthquake-ceasefire/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/04/29/open-sources-show-myanmar-junta-airstrike-damages-despite-post-earthquake-ceasefire/] Human Rights Watch report: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/05/18/myanmar-no-redress-for-rohingya-muslims-in-arakan-army-massacre [https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/05/18/myanmar-no-redress-for-rohingya-muslims-in-arakan-army-massacre] Resources mentioned: https://acleddata.com/ [https://acleddata.com/] https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/ [https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/] https://themimu.info/ [https://themimu.info/] https://www.info-res.org/myanmar-witness/ [https://www.info-res.org/myanmar-witness/] Stage Talk on munitions identification: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2625938/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2625938/] Discord spaces: Myanmar: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1087357245400035350 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1087357245400035350] Bombs, Arms, Drones, Other Killing Machines: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/709771086228619337 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/709771086228619337] Asia: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/709783693857783929 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/709783693857783929] Contact Pooja on pooja@bellingcat.com [pooja@bellingcat.com]

"Tracing Deportation Flights" with Gillian Brockell

This week we dove head first into the world of flight tracking. How can you identify an ICE flight? What can tracking tools actually tell us? And what kinds of conditions are those being deported facing? We discuss all this and more with independent journalist and former Washington Post staffer Gillian Brockell. Think of this one as a one stop intro to flight tracking workshop, and listen whilst you have the tools in front of you. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on May 14th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: Gillian's work: https://gillianbrockell.com/ [https://gillianbrockell.com/] Flight tracking site: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/ [https://globe.adsbexchange.com/] Another flight tracking site mentioned: https://www.flightradar24.com/ [https://www.flightradar24.com/] New ICE flight tracking tool designed for legal professionals for when clients touch their jurisdiction (includes ICE hubs/callsign prefixes): https://lexingtonalarm.org/hfw-dashboard/ [https://lexingtonalarm.org/hfw-dashboard/] Acars site: https://tbg.airframes.io/dashboard/ [https://tbg.airframes.io/dashboard/] Aviation channel in Bellingcat Discord: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1319318313519812619 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1319318313519812619] ICE discussion channel in Bellingcat Discord: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1371571764525535242 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1371571764525535242] Seattle airport livestream: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/transit-transportation-roads/airport/about/ice-flights [https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/transit-transportation-roads/airport/about/ice-flights] LiveATC.net: https://liveatc.net/ [https://liveatc.net/] ATC.com: https://www.atc.com/ [https://www.atc.com/] Advice on ADSB feeders: https://adsb.im/home [https://adsb.im/home] Bellingcat's historical flight tracking data tool (Turnstone): https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/03/05/turnstone-flight-tracking-tool/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/03/05/turnstone-flight-tracking-tool/]

"Navigating Chinese Social Media For Research" with Chu Yang

This week’s episode features researcher Chu Yang, a specialist in Chinese audience insights. She joins us to break down the most popular social media platforms in China, offering a clear overview of how they work and why they matter. Chu also shares practical tips for accessing these platforms from outside the country, along with useful tools for analysing trends both within China and across global Chinese communities. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on April 30th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: The guide on Xiaohongshu written by Chu Yang: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/04/20/xiaohongshu-rednote-open-source-guide/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/04/20/xiaohongshu-rednote-open-source-guide/] Mentioned resources: weibo.com/hot [http://weibo.com/hot] newrank.cn [http://newrank.cn] whatsonweibo.com [http://whatsonweibo.com] chinadigitaltimes.net [http://chinadigitaltimes.net] citizenlab.ca [http://citizenlab.ca] https://zh.greatfire.org/analyzer [https://zh.greatfire.org/analyzer] Chu's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chu-yang-cn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chu-yang-cn]

"Synthetic Propaganda - Tracing an AI-Driven Political Operation" with Effie Webb

This week we spoke with The Bureau of Investigative Journalism's AI reporter, Effie Webb about the use of AI in the political sphere and what researchers/journalists can effectively report on AI misuse. Effie uncovered what some experts are calling a first-of-its-kind case—where a registered political party paid for content from an AI-generated influencer pushing ideological messaging. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on April 16th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: Effie Webb's original reporting: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-03-12/danny-bones-meet-the-ai-rapper-funded-by-a-far-right-party [https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-03-12/danny-bones-meet-the-ai-rapper-funded-by-a-far-right-party] Effie's follow up investigation on the cash in following her reporting: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-03-26/the-hate-economy-in-action-how-an-ai-rapper-tried-to-cash-in-on-our-coverage [https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-03-26/the-hate-economy-in-action-how-an-ai-rapper-tried-to-cash-in-on-our-coverage] Advance UK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_UK [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_UK] Bellingcat coverage of Indian political parties using AI-generated images to spread hate: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/31/india-bjp-hate-speech-ai [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/31/india-bjp-hate-speech-ai/]/?utm_source=rss [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/31/india-bjp-hate-speech-ai/?utm_source=rss] The Node Project website: https://www.thenodeproject.com/ [https://www.thenodeproject.com/] On AI lego videos from Iran conflict: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/15/iran-beating-us-social-media-wars [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/15/iran-beating-us-social-media-wars] AI generated band finding success on Spotify: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/14/an-ai-generated-band-got-1m-plays-on-spotify-now-music-insiders-say-listeners-should-be-warned [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/14/an-ai-generated-band-got-1m-plays-on-spotify-now-music-insiders-say-listeners-should-be-warned] One of our previous talks on digital political influence campaigns: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2021916/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2021916/] On AI and the first amendment: https://www.freedomforum.org/artificial-intelligence-first-amendment/ [https://www.freedomforum.org/artificial-intelligence-first-amendment/] Bellingcat's Auto Archiver: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2025/08/13/the-open-source-tool-that-has-preserved-150000-pieces-of-online-evidence/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2025/08/13/the-open-source-tool-that-has-preserved-150000-pieces-of-online-evidence/] Effie's contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/effie-webb-ab29941938 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/effie-webb-ab2994193]