Intel Focus: The Intelligence Spotlight Series

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight, host Qais Alamdar speaks with Olivia Pirie-Griffiths about journalism, open-source investigation, information integrity and the growing overlap between public trust and national security. Olivia has worked across press freedom, journalism and information integrity, including with the Centre for Information Resilience. She is now studying National Secu...

In this episode of The Intelligence Spotlight, Qais Alamdar speaks with Dr Berit Ebert, a political scientist and academic specialising in European Union law, with a particular focus on gender equality, democracy, and the rule of law. Dr Ebert is a faculty member at Bard College Berlin, a liberal arts university in Berlin, where she also serves as Director of Public Programs and Strategic Initiati...

In this episode of the Intelligent Spotlight organisation series, Viktoria Waldvogel hosts Alba Tobella, a seasoned journalist and co-founder of Verificat, Catalonia's first independent fact-checking organization. They explore how disinformation impacts democracies, the evolution of fact-checking, and the role of AI and social media in the fight against fake news.

In this episode of Intelligence Spotlight, Qais Alamdar speaks with Kate Millar, an intelligence and communications specialist, about how modern conflict is increasingly shaped in the grey zone, where states and non-state actors pursue strategic aims while staying below the clearest legal thresholds. They unpack why attribution has become the central battleground for accountability, and why OSINT...

In this episode of Intelligence Spotlight, host Qais Alamdar speaks with Gergana Krasteva, a freelance foreign correspondent, about the evolving landscape of journalism, the challenges freelancers face, and the importance of ethics in reporting. They explore the economics of journalism, the art of storytelling, and the mental challenges reporters encounter. Gergana shares her insights on the futur...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight, Baptiste Robert, an ethical hacker and founder of Predictor Lab, discusses the nuances of hacking, the importance of ethical frameworks, and the role of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in modern investigations. He shares his journey from a grey hat hacker to an entrepreneur, emphasising the responsibilities that come with hacking skills. The discussi...

In this conversation, Gemma Terés Arilla discusses the challenges and lessons learned in independent journalism, particularly in the context of leadership, networking, and the impact of censorship. She emphasises the importance of local journalism in rebuilding trust and the need to break away from clichéd narratives in reporting on global issues. The discussion also touches on the role of emergen...

In this episode, Qais Alamdar and Alice Echtermann explore the pressing issue of disinformation, particularly in the context of Germany. They discuss the evolving landscape of misinformation, the challenges faced by fact-checkers, and the role of technology, especially AI, in exacerbating these issues. Alice shares insights from her work in investigating scams related to humanitarian crises, empha...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight, host Qais Alamdar and guest Daniel Iriarte discuss the complexities of modern warfare, focusing on cognitive warfare and the manipulation of information. They discuss how the battlefield has shifted from physical confrontations to the realm of perception and belief, emphasizing the role of disinformation and propaganda in shaping public opinion. The d...

In this episode, host Qais Alamdar talks with Shay Maman, a senior intelligence researcher, about the hidden parts of the internet, including the deep web and dark web. Shay shares his journey into cybersecurity, the unexpected faces behind cybercrime, and the tactics used for online radicalization. The discussion also covers the resilience of illicit online markets and the importance of open-sour...

In this conversation, Sohan DSouza discusses the evolving landscape of information warfare, the role of AI in misinformation, and the importance of human oversight in open-source intelligence (OSINT). He emphasizes the need for media and AI literacy, the challenges posed by automated systems, and the future norms that investigative journalists should adopt. Sohan also highlights the complexities o...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight, investigative journalist Lynzy Billing discusses her journey into journalism, the challenges of gaining trust in war-torn regions, and the emotional toll of reporting on traumatic events. She emphasises the importance of balancing data with human stories, the environmental impact of war, and the misconceptions surrounding investigative journalism. Lyn...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight Series, Qais Alamdar interviews Sarah Cammarata, a senior intelligence analyst and OSINT specialist. They discuss Sarah's transition from journalism to intelligence analysis, the application of open-source techniques in financial investigations, and the challenges of investigating gender-based online abuse. The conversation also explores the evolut...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight series, Jenna Dolecek delves into the evolving landscape of open source intelligence (OSINT) and its growing relevance in human rights investigations. Drawing on over a decade of experience, she reflects on the ethical dilemmas, the influence of artificial intelligence, and widespread misconceptions that continue to shape the field. Jenna joins Qais Al...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight series, Qais Alamdar and Alicia Alamillos delve into the complexities of conflict reporting. They discuss the critical role of journalists in war zones, the ethical dilemmas they face, and the importance of storytelling in conveying the human experience of conflict. Alicia shares her personal experiences from the field, highlighting the challenges of n...

In this episode of The Intelligence Spotlight, Qais Alamdar hosts Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal, Afghanistan’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs. From his early dream of becoming an architect to navigating the highest corridors of diplomacy, Ambassador Saikal shares personal reflections and political insights that cut through the noi...

The first virtual panel of the Intelligence Spotlight series features two distinguished guests from Italy and the UK. Guest speakers bio:Nick Vant is a UK Fact-Checking Producer at Reuters Fact Check – Reuters news agency’s specialised fact-checking unit within its editorial department. He investigates cases of online mis- and disinformation with a focus on UK social media users. Before joining Re...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight Series, hosted by Qais Alamdar, we are joined by Ben Heubl, an esteemed investigative journalist at Süddeutsche Zeitung. Ben delves into his journey with open source intelligence (OSINT) and how he utilizes these techniques to uncover critical stories on global security, human rights, and environmental issues. From his early days at The Economist and F...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight Series, host Qais Alamdar welcomes Faissal Sharif, a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford. Faissal discusses his journey into neuroscience, his work on neurotechnology's role in mental health, and the platform he co-founded for BIPOC communities. The conversation delves into cognitive biases, the effects of stress and anxiety on decision-making,...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight series, Qais Alamdar welcomes Sarah Adams, a renowned national security expert and former CIA targeting officer. Join us as Sarah delves into her extensive career in counterterrorism focusing on the Taliban, Afghanistan, and Al Qaeda. She provides insights into her role in the CIA, the intricacies of targeting operations, and the importance of open-sou...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight Series, host Qais Alamdar interviews Neus Vidal Martí, Executive Director of the Seek Initiative, journalist, and political scientist. Neus shares her career journey from investigative journalism to leading an organisation that empowers citizen journalists and grassroots investigators. She discusses the importance of access to information, media freedo...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight series, hosted by Qais Alamdar, we feature renowned journalist May Bulman, the Investigations Editor at Lighthouse Reports. With a prolific background in reporting on migration, human rights, and government accountability, May shares her journey from early writing pursuits to impactful investigative journalism. She discusses her work on crucial topics,...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight Series, hosted by Qais Alamdar, we explore the impactful work of OSINT for Ukraine, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to using open-source intelligence to document war crimes, counter disinformation, and support accountability related to the Russo-Ukraine war. Founded in 2022, the organization collaborates with other investigative bodies to verify and a...

Decoding Digital Deception: Mastering OSINT and Combating Misinformation Join us in this compelling episode of the Intelligence Spotlight series as we explore the captivating realm of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) with expert Tal Higgins. Discover the intricacies of analysing digital communication in conflict zones and the crucial role of social media platforms like Telegram in modern psycholog...

In this episode of the Intelligence Spotlight series, hosted by Qais Alamdar, investigative journalist Clare Hammond shares her journey and insights into open-source intelligence (OSINT), focusing on her experiences in Myanmar. Clare discusses her career path, influenced by her parents' work in Zambia, and her academic awakening to the troubled history of British colonialism. With her work at Glob...