Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Charley

@charleymaher.bsky.social

3.2K followers 160 following 36 posts

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.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Charley @charleymaher.bsky.social · Feb 11

After running a few BlueSky accounts I thought I'd make one of my own!
Hello! I'm @bellingcat.com 's Social Media Editor 👋
Will mostly post about representation in media and cool storytelling methods! And obviously if you're not already, go follow Bellingcat!

13 160

Charley @charleymaher.bsky.social · 4d

Wow amazing work.

Reposted by Charley

Jack Sapoch @jacksapoch.bsky.social · 4d

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

26 820 1.8K

Reposted by Charley

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 12d

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...

Can ChatGPT Find Out Where Your Photo Was Taken?

YouTube video by Bellingcat

www.youtube.com

7 22 86

Reposted by Charley

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 12d

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...

2 100 250

Reposted by Charley

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 6d

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...

Stage talk Thursday 9th of October, 5pm CEST/11am EDT discord.com/invite/bellingcat

Title: Student Researchers vs the Misinformation Machine

5 56 160

Reposted by Charley

Tomi McCluskey @tomi-mcc.bsky.social · 6d

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.

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 6d

Smuggling routes, illegal fishing operations, and shadow fleets. There’s loads going on at sea. Try to track some ships yourself, this month in the Bellingcat Open Source Challenge. Find the exercises, created by our volunteer @tomi-mcc.bsky.social, here: challenge.bellingcat.com

13 60

Reposted by Charley

Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 10d

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.

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.

www.erininthemorning.com

190 1.4K 3.3K

Reposted by Charley

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 19d

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.

Kolina Koltai @koltai.bsky.social · 20d

I spoke to Adriana Stephan for New America's report on AI deepfake pornography being used against women in politics.

This is a serious problem that disproportionately affects women in politics, and I'm glad to see research go towards addressing it.

www.newamerica.org/future-secur...

A Weapon Against Women in Politics: Reining in Nonconsensual Synthetic Intimate Imagery

Nonconsensual intimate imagery often targets and harms women in political life. How does it spread, and what are the solutions?

www.newamerica.org

3 52 120

Reposted by Charley

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · Sep 11

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

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. ...

www.bellingcat.com

1 57 140

Reposted by Charley

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · Sep 11

What struck the Gaza Aid Flotilla? After we published the story, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior issued a statement describing the incident “that took place yesterday” as a “premeditated attack” stating that an investigation had been launched.”

10 190 480

Charley @charleymaher.bsky.social · Sep 11

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

Charley @charleymaher.bsky.social · Sep 11

Israeli news sites are also leading with a network map that doesn't appear to be in the report. Source: YNetNews

1 3

Charley @charleymaher.bsky.social · Sep 11

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...

www.gov.il

1 2

Reposted by Charley

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · Sep 9

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...

37 620 1.1K

Reposted by Charley

AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · Sep 9

UPDATE Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists say one of their boats was hit by a suspected drone off the coast of Tunisia, but authorities there say none were detected

u.afp.com/SdES

1 6 17

Charley @charleymaher.bsky.social · Sep 9

Walkthrough of the 'family' vessel and the strike site in the light. Credit: Yusuf Omar

Reposted by Charley

Kolina Koltai @koltai.bsky.social · Sep 9

It's very easy to get enraged by a video, but sharing older videos as if they were new can muddy the waters for journalists and citizens. Even though the footage may depict a real thing, we need accurate context!

So first things first, we need to determine:
Where this happened
When this happened

1 2 26

Reposted by Charley

Kolina Koltai @koltai.bsky.social · Sep 9

As Operation Midway Blitz kicks off in Chicago, it's so important to stay on top of both when and where videos are happening. This video below that features bystanders yelling 'Where you taking them?" and masked agents putting someone into a vehicle is NOT from this weekend.

5 51 180

Reposted by Charley

AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · Sep 9

BREAKING Organisers of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and pro-Palestinian activists say that one of its boats was hit by a suspected drone but that no one was hurt

3 20 26

Charley @charleymaher.bsky.social · Sep 9

Reports at the moment suggest all crew members disembarked safely.

1 1

Charley @charleymaher.bsky.social · Sep 9

Was watching journalist Yusuf Omar's livestream as the main vessel in the flotilla was hit just offshore Tunis. Luckily some accounts recorded it: www.instagram.com/yusufomar?ig...

1 3 6

Reposted by Charley

The Serfs (youtube.com/theserfstv) @theserfstv.bsky.social · Sep 9

The Global Sumud Flotilla says its main ship has been struck by a suspected drone in Tunisia, luckily all passengers and crew are safe

LIVE: Sumud Flotilla says main ship attacked in Tunisia, crew safe

7 52 140

Reposted by Charley

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · Aug 22

We are excited to see Bellingcat listed as a finalist in four categories in the 2025 Online Journalism Awards awards.journalists.org/winners/2025

2025 Online Journalism Awards

awards.journalists.org

4 45 260

Reposted by Charley

Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · Jun 26

New from 404 Media: ICE is using a new facial recognition app to identify people, leaked emails show. Point camera at person, reveal their identity. It uses the CBP system that records peoples' faces as they enter or exit the U.S. Now, turned inwards to be used by ICE www.404media.co/ice-is-using...

ICE Is Using a New Facial Recognition App to Identify People, Leaked Emails Show

The new tool, called Mobile Fortify, uses the CBP system which ordinarily takes photos of people when they enter or exit the U.S., according to internal ICE emails viewed by 404 Media. Now ICE is usin...

www.404media.co

430 3.6K 5.9K

Reposted by Charley

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · Jun 27

Last week @koltai.bsky.social and @melzxy.bsky.social dug into the “CrushAI” network, uncovering new companies associated with the deepfake brand. Meta is currently taking legal action against another Crushmate-affiliated company for 1000s of 'nudify ads' that violated its platform policies.

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · Jun 18

On its website Crushmate claimed to specialise in “crafting an AI girl of your dreams”, but on social ads it promoted a tool for making nonconsensual nude images of real women. @koltai.bsky.social & @melzxy.bsky.social pull back the layers of the “CrushAI” network. www.bellingcat.com/news/america...

New Companies Linked to 'Nudify' Apps That Ran Ads on Facebook, Instagram

Meta is suing Joy Timeline HK Limited, the entity it says is behind the CrushAI apps. But Bellingcat has linked these apps to two other companies.

www.bellingcat.com

17 51