Intelligence Squared Bellingcat Founder Eliot Higgins on Navalny, Syria and Skripal
Feb 5, 2021
Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, shares his incredible journey from college dropout to investigative journalism pioneer. He reveals how his team employs cutting-edge technology to expose significant global events, like the tragic downing of flight MH17 and the chemical weapon use in Syria. Higgins also discusses the high-stakes poisonings of Alexei Navalny and Sergei Skripal, illuminating how open-source intelligence connects these international incidents. The conversation delves into the ethical challenges and personal risks journalists face in the age of misinformation.
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The Power of Open Source
- The rise of smartphones and social media created a new era of readily available information during the Arab Spring.
- Higgins was uniquely positioned to capitalize on this and expose global events in real-time.
From Gamer to Global Investigator
- Higgins's newfound fame led to an influx of media requests, surprising and overwhelming him.
- However, sharing his skills with activists at a Tactical Tech camp in Italy validated his work.
MH17 and the Birth of Bellingcat's Team
- Bellingcat's investigation into MH17 began with a collaborative online effort to analyze open-source data.
- This led to identifying the missile launcher's route and connecting its deployment to Russia.
