Episode Summary: The Jordan Harbinger Show - Episode 1192: Eliot Higgins | The Digital Detectives Making Dictators Sweat

In this compelling episode of The Jordan Harbinger Show, host Jordan Harbinger engages in an insightful conversation with Eliot Higgins, the founder of Bellingcat—a pioneering citizen investigative journalism platform. Released on August 5, 2025, the episode delves deep into the world of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and how digital detectives like Higgins are reshaping global accountability by uncovering state-sponsored crimes and disinformation campaigns.

Introduction to Eliot Higgins and Bellingcat

Jordan Harbinger opens the discussion by highlighting Higgins' transformation from a hobbyist to a leader in digital investigations. Higgins recounts the inception of Bellingcat in July 2014, spurred by the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Eastern Ukraine. This tragic event served as a catalyst for Higgins to assemble a team leveraging publicly available data to uncover the perpetrators behind the incident.

Eliot Higgins [11:53]: "We launched Bellingcat to show people how to do these investigations and give them a platform where they could publish their own investigations."

Open Source Investigations: Techniques and Methodologies

Higgins elaborates on the core methodologies employed by Bellingcat, emphasizing the use of geolocation and chronolocation to verify the authenticity and origin of digital content. By analyzing landmarks in videos and images, Bellingcat can accurately pinpoint locations and establish timelines of events.

Eliot Higgins [12:03]: "We use landmarks visible in the video with satellite imagery to do geolocation—determining where exactly the footage was taken."

The discussion also touches upon the development of proprietary tools by Bellingcat, such as SongCalc for shadow analysis and geofence searches to track military personnel through their social media posts.

Case Studies: Unveiling State-Sponsored Crimes

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17

One of the flagship investigations discussed is the MH17 shootdown. Higgins describes how Bellingcat meticulously mapped the movements of Russian military units, using selfies posted by soldiers and satellite data to trace the missile launcher responsible for the incident.

Eliot Higgins [15:15]: "We built a timeline of the missile launcher's movements, confirming its involvement with the MH17 tragedy through multiple pieces of evidence available online."

Skripal Poisoning

Another significant case explored is the poisoning of Sergey Skripal in the UK. Bellingcat's analysis of flight records and phone metadata exposed the involvement of Russian GRU agents, highlighting the effectiveness of OSINT in countering state-sponsored covert operations.

Eliot Higgins [36:05]: "Our investigation into the Skripal poisoning utilized Russian databases to unveil the fake identities and track the movements of the suspects across Europe."

Challenges and Threats: Navigating a Hostile Environment

Higgins candidly discusses the threats faced by Bellingcat, including cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, and personal harassment from state actors. Despite these challenges, Bellingcat continues its mission, even as it draws scrutiny and false accusations of being a front for intelligence agencies.

Eliot Higgins [18:20]: "People accuse us of being a CIA front, but our work stands on the evidence we present, not on unfounded claims of government affiliation."

The conversation also highlights the psychological toll of dealing with graphic and traumatic content, emphasizing the importance of mental health support within investigative teams.

Eliot Higgins [60:12]: "We have a psychological support system at Bellingcat to help our team process the vicarious trauma from the horrific content we encounter."

Impact and Future Directions: Shaping Global Accountability

Higgins underscores the transformative impact of Bellingcat’s work on international accountability mechanisms, including collaborations with institutions like the International Criminal Court. He envisions a future where open-source investigations are integral to democratic verification, deliberation, and accountability.

Eliot Higgins [46:18]: "Our mission is to make accountability happen more frequently by equipping individuals with the tools and knowledge to uncover the truth."

Furthermore, Higgins addresses the growing threat of deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation, advocating for enhanced education in critical thinking and media literacy to combat the erosion of shared truths.

Eliot Higgins [65:07]: "We need to educate on critical thinking skills from an early age to ensure that society can navigate and verify the authenticity of the information they encounter."

Conclusion: Empowering the Digital Citizen

The episode concludes with Higgins inviting listeners to join the Bellingcat community through platforms like Discord and offering resources for aspiring digital detectives. His commitment to democratizing investigative journalism resonates as a call to action for individuals to engage in uncovering truths and holding power to account.

Eliot Higgins [73:12]: "If you're interested in open-source investigation, join our Discord server or explore the guides and resources on our website to start making a difference."

Key Takeaways

• Bellingcat's Mission: To utilize open-source intelligence for uncovering state-sponsored crimes and fostering global accountability.

• Techniques Employed: Geolocation, chronolocation, metadata analysis, and the development of proprietary investigative tools.

• Notable Cases: MH17 shootdown, Skripal poisoning, and the tracking of Russian GRU agents.

• Challenges Faced: Cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, personal harassment, and the psychological impact of investigative work.

• Future Endeavors: Collaborations with international bodies, combating AI-generated disinformation, and promoting critical thinking education.

This episode offers a profound exploration of how digital investigations are instrumental in challenging authoritarian narratives and promoting transparency. Eliot Higgins' work with Bellingcat exemplifies the power of collective intelligence and the critical role of open-source investigations in modern journalism.