This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler Inside the battle for truth – with Bellingcat’s Eliot Higgins
Jul 3, 2025
Eliot Higgins, the founder of Bellingcat, dives into the murky waters of misinformation in this enlightening conversation. He explores how political narratives can distort truth and erode trust in democracy. Discussing the delicate differences between misinformation and disinformation, Higgins emphasizes their impact on societal divides. He offers insights into the strategies of state actors, particularly Russia, in manipulating narratives. The dialogue also touches on the vital need for media literacy and rebuilding trust in democratic institutions to combat the rising tide of deceit.
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Bellingcat's Open Source Power
- Bellingcat uses open source investigation to analyze vast online information for conflicts and corruption.
- This method helps verify facts and context to combat fake news and propaganda.
Disinformation vs. Misinformation
- Disinformation is shared intentionally to deceive, while misinformation is spread unknowingly.
- Understanding intent helps reveal if people are lying or simply mistaken when sharing false info.
Trust Crises Undermine Democracy
- The real change is loss of trust in information systems underpinning democracies.
- The shift from top-down to peer-to-peer info structures undermines verification, deliberation, and accountability.
