Navigating Operational Security in Open Source Research

This week we're joined by Mike Yambo, open source investigator from the popular African news outlet Nation. Mike explains how he managed to establish open source research practices in his traditional newsroom and how he taught himself those skillsets. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday January 30th 2025. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist.

Links mentioned:

Mike Yambo's work at Nation: https://nation.africa/kenya/author-profiles/mike-yambo-4180312

Ben Strick, YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/bendobrown

Bellingcat guides: https://www.bellingcat.com/category/resources/

Witness: https://www.witness.org/

Code For Africa: https://opportunities.codeforafrica.org/

Anatomy of a killing - BBC Africa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbnLkc6r3yc

Bellingcat's telegram phone number checker tool: https://github.com/bellingcat/telegram-phone-number-checker

How to use the telegram phone number checker video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLJgnlilEBs&t=1s

Sudan story referenced by Mike: https://nation.africa/africa/news/look-the-fire-is-inside-your-houses-where-are-you-sudan-s-war-within-4683754

Bellingcat DRC coverage: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/01/29/m23-rebels-goma-congo-fighting-clashes-drc-kivu-control/

Shabaab story referenced by Mike: https://nation.africa/kenya/news/the-digital-footprints-of-suspected-shabaab-financier-4391768

Police beating story referenced by Mike: https://nation.africa/kenya/news/finding-the-location-of-viral-video-of-man-beaten-by-police-4304224