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Iain Overton

@iainoverton.bsky.social
13K followers 4.1K following 7.5K posts

⚔ Investigative journalist and reporting on war - Action on Armed Violence 📗 History of suicide bomber: The Price of Paradise 📘 Global gun harm: Gun Baby Gun ☞ PhD for war-reporting ☞ Write for Byline Times / Declassified / The Guardian

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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 1h
More than a third (37%) of children aged 12 to 15 fall asleep watching a screen, according to CyberSafeKids. A survey of 1,200 children by the online safety charity found that two-thirds of those in secondary school, and a third in primary school, have no restrictions on their online activity.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 1h
“Guns don’t kill people; people do.” How did an American gun-rights slogan become a global political ideology? AOAV investigates the international spread of pro-gun rhetoric. aoav.org.uk/2026/guns-do...
aoav.org.uk
“Guns don’t kill people; people do”: the global diffusion of gun-rights rhetoric and ideology examined - AOAV
This study examines how “Guns don’t kill people; people do” evolved from an American gun-rights slogan into a global political rhetoric used to resist firearm regulation.
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Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) @aoav.bsky.social · 3h
AOAV spent more than a year examining the principal explosive weapons used by the Israeli military in Gaza between October 23 and Sep 25. Our new report (aoav.org.uk/2026/explosi...) traces specific munitions to their manufacturers and documents incidents of civilian harm.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 7h
The use of explosive weapons in Gaza: a forensic analysis of munitions and civilian harm aoav.org.uk/2026/explosi...
aoav.org.uk
Explosive weapons in Gaza: munitions, supply chains and civilian harm
AOAV traces the munitions, manufacturers and supply chains behind Israel's use of explosive weapons in Gaza and examines the resulting civilian harm.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Judging from the attacks I get on the other place from 'veterans', I'd say that the British military has a far-right problem. One that we don't really speak about. Thoughts?
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Corruption, much? CFTC Staff Were Told to Retract Analysis of Suspicious Oil Trades Chairman’s adviser intervened to take over examination of lucrative bets that were made around Trump reversal on Iran power plant attack. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
bloomberg.com
CFTC Staff Were Told to Retract Analysis of Suspicious Oil Trades
Chairman’s adviser intervened to take over examination of lucrative bets that were made around Trump reversal on Iran power plant attack.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
What Britain won't reveal about its military assistance to Israel during the Gaza war. The MoD confirms human rights risk assessments took place, but refuses to say how many, when or whether ministers approved them. AOAV investigates: aoav.org.uk/2026/uk-mili...
aoav.org.uk
What Britain will not reveal about its military assistance to Israel during the Gaza war UK military assistance to Israel: human rights risks hidden - AOAV
FOI disclosures reveal UK human rights assessments of military assistance to Israel, but the Ministry of Defence refuses to reveal how often they occurred.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
94% of Britons back a global treaty regulating AI weapons, while 90% fear their growing use in war. With UN negotiations looming, campaigners urge Ed Miliband to back binding rules to protect civilians and ensure human control. una.org.uk/autonomous-w...
una.org.uk
Autonomous Weapons: Write to your MP - UNA-UK
The UK must join the global push to control military AI and autonomous weapon systems at the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Review Conference in November.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 15/10/2026
Michael Gove is editor of The Spectator. Posted without comment.
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Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) @aoav.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
How war became a bull market in Israel – and how the UK contributed to this aoav.org.uk/2026/israel-...
aoav.org.uk
How war became a bull market in Israel - and how the UK contributed to this How war boosted Israel's stock market and the UK's role - AOAV
Israel's stock market has surged during war, with defence companies among the beneficiaries. AOAV examines the gains and Britain's role in the arms industry.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Almost half (48%) of Brits would not fight for their country under any circumstances, according to an Ipsos poll of 1,090 adults. Just over a third (35%) said they would, while the rest were unsure.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Most SAS soldiers approached by Britain's Afghanistan Inquiry have refused to answer questions, invoking their right against self-incrimination. The inquiry is examining more than 50 alleged unlawful killings and possible cover-ups. aoav.org.uk/2026/sas-afg...
aoav.org.uk
Most SAS soldiers refused to answer questions over alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan - AOAV
Most SAS personnel approached by the Afghanistan inquiry refuse to answer questions as investigators uncover 10,000 photographs from controversial raids.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
How war became a bull market in Israel – and how the UK contributed to this aoav.org.uk/2026/israel-...
aoav.org.uk
How war became a bull market in Israel - and how the UK contributed to this How war boosted Israel's stock market and the UK's role - AOAV
Israel's stock market has surged during war, with defence companies among the beneficiaries. AOAV examines the gains and Britain's role in the arms industry.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
A disturbing new documentary, NAZA, features Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers describing AI-assisted targeting, civilian deaths reduced to numbers and a military culture in which killing became routine. The IDF denies the allegations. Our review: aoav.org.uk/2026/naza-do...
aoav.org.uk
What the film NAZA reveals about Israel’s bombing of Gaza, and what was already known NAZA documentary: What it reveals about the war in Gaza - AOAV
The NAZA documentary reveals Israeli military testimony on AI targeting and civilian deaths in Gaza. AOAV examines what is new and what was already known.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Under Section 12 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, personnel are obliged to obey only lawful commands, meaning they could, and indeed should, refuse such an order.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
War has become a bull market in Israel. Israel's stock market has risen 115% since October 7th, 2023, but its defence companies have done even better, with some shares soaring over 1,000%. Britain is among their customers. AOAV investigates who profits from war. aoav.org.uk/2026/israel-...
aoav.org.uk
How war became a bull market in Israel - and how the UK contributed to this How war boosted Israel's stock market and the UK's role - AOAV
Israel's stock market has surged during war, with defence companies among the beneficiaries. AOAV examines the gains and Britain's role in the arms industry.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Did senior British officers obstruct an SAS murder investigation? A former military police investigator alleges crucial evidence was ignored and pressure exerted to close an inquiry into 45 Afghan deaths. No prosecutions followed. AOAV reports: aoav.org.uk/2026/sas-afg...
aoav.org.uk
SAS Afghanistan murder investigationMilitary police investigator accuses senior officers of obstructing SAS murder inquiry - AOAV
A military police investigator alleges senior officers obstructed an inquiry into suspected SAS killings in Afghanistan, preventing key evidence being examined.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
This looks very powerful - Killing Anna Taut When Bashar al-Assad's murderous henchmen start to appear on Facebook, a Syrian academic spots a catfishing opportunity to get them to confess to their crimes. www.channel4.com/programmes/k...
channel4.com
Killing Anna
Documentary about a catfishing investigation into the crimes of the Bashar al-Assad regime
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
The strangest response I find on the other place is when anonymous accounts - who don’t seem to be bots - get upset if I turn off comments (from anonymous accounts).
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Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) @aoav.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
“The falcon cannot hear the falconer.” As AI becomes too complex for even its creators, militaries are increasingly using it to make life-and-death decisions. What happens when we lose control of the weapons we build? @iainoverton.bsky.social's latest for AOAV: aoav.org.uk/2026/ai-weap...
aoav.org.uk
AI Weapons and the Danger of Losing Human ControlThe falcon cannot hear the falconer: the terrifying implications of developing AI weapons we many soon not be able to understand and control - AOAV
As AI systems become harder to understand, their growing use in military targeting raises urgent questions about civilian protection, accountability and human control.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
“The falcon cannot hear the falconer.” As AI becomes too complex for even its creators to understand, militaries are increasingly using it to make life-and-death decisions. What happens when we lose control of the weapons we build? My latest for AOAV: aoav.org.uk/2026/ai-weap...
aoav.org.uk
AI Weapons and the Danger of Losing Human ControlThe falcon cannot hear the falconer: the terrifying implications of developing AI weapons we many soon not be able to understand and control - AOAV
As AI systems become harder to understand, their growing use in military targeting raises urgent questions about civilian protection, accountability and human control.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
All hats off to @carolecadwalla.bsky.social and @peterjukes.bsky.social for their investigation into this. History has a habit of unearthing the bones, doesn't it? But they were there digging first.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
I wonder if Sarah Vine will be investigating other scandals amongst Oxbridge professors with the same energy that she did for Jason Arday.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Russia is targeting the senior executives of European defence companies for assasination, according to the Financial Times.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
“The apocalypse is not now. It’s next.” @aoav.bsky.social speaks to anthropologist Ruben Andersson about the rise of the global security industry, and what happens when governments invest in anticipating disaster rather than addressing its causes. aoav.org.uk/2026/ruben-a...
aoav.org.uk
Ruben Andersson: Age of Security and the politics of fear | AOAVThe apocalypse is not now, it’s next: how fear became a global political and industrial obsession - AOAV
Ruben Andersson speaks to AOAV about Age of Security, exploring how fear fuels militarisation, surveillance and a politics of permanent emergency.
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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
📌 ICYMI — Why Did Polymarket Trading Surge an Hour Before the Iran War Started? — @iainoverton.bsky.social There was a major spike in Polymarket bets predicting the Iran War, an hour before Trump's strikes began, new analysis finds
bylinetimes.com
Why Did Polymarket Trading Surge an Hour Before the Iran War Started?
There was a major spike in Polymarket bets predicting the Iran War, an hour before Trump's strikes began, new analysis finds
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Where there is war, there is profit.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Ruin a book by adding a word: The Very Hungry Human Caterpillar
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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
📌 ICYMI — Why Did Polymarket Trading Surge an Hour Before the Iran War Started? — @iainoverton.bsky.social There was a major spike in Polymarket bets predicting the Iran War, an hour before Trump's strikes began, new analysis finds
bylinetimes.com
Why Did Polymarket Trading Surge an Hour Before the Iran War Started?
There was a major spike in Polymarket bets predicting the Iran War, an hour before Trump's strikes began, new analysis finds
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
History repeats itself. First as comedy, then as tragedy. (🫥)
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Max Colbert @mc00.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This Onion article was only written in April.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
BBC pays compensation to PinkNews couple over false sexual misconduct allegations www.theguardian.com/media/2026/o...
theguardian.com
BBC pays compensation to PinkNews couple over false sexual misconduct allegations
Broadcaster apologises after admitting claims against Benjamin Cohen and Anthony James were defamatory
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
😂
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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
🔴 NEW Why Did Polymarket Trading Surge an Hour Before the Iran War Started? By @iainoverton.bsky.social Read below. ↓
bylinetimes.com
Why Did Polymarket Trading Surge an Hour Before the Iran War Started?
There was a major spike in Polymarket bets predicting the Iran War, an hour before Trump's strikes began, new analysis finds
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Channel 4’s Dispatches lifts the lid on Britain’s Gaza Secrets, but questions remain aoav.org.uk/2026/channel...
aoav.org.uk
Channel 4’s Dispatches lifts the lid on Britain’s Gaza Secrets, but questions remain - AOAV Channel 4 Dispatches reveals Britain's Gaza secrets | AOAV
Channel 4's Dispatches reveals new evidence about Britain's response to the war in Gaza. AOAV examines the findings and the questions left unanswered.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Literally what we wrote in the article.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Why did Polymarket trading surge an hour before the Iran war started? aoav.org.uk/2026/polymar...
aoav.org.uk
Why did Polymarket trading surge an hour before the Iran war started?Polymarket Trading Surged Before Iran War Strikes - AOAV
Polymarket bets surged just before US and Israeli strikes on Iran. AOAV investigates suspicious trading patterns and profits made by newly created accounts.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
In memoriam: an analysis of the 7th of October 2023 casualties in Israel aoav.org.uk/2023/an-anal...
aoav.org.uk
An analysis of the 7th of October 2023 casualties in Israel - AOAV
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, examining the strategic impact, demographic patterns of casualties, and broader implications for the Israel-...
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Why possible prosecutions of UK Special Forces over Afghanistan are both a tragedy and a necessity Op-ed for @aoav.bsky.social aoav.org.uk/2026/uk-spec...
aoav.org.uk
Why possible prosecutions of UK Special Forces over Afghanistan are both a tragedy and a necessityWhy UK Special Forces Prosecutions Over Afghanistan May Be Necessary - AOAV
AOAV argues that possible prosecutions of UK Special Forces over alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan are both tragic and necessary for justice and accountability.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Three years of genocide: How has Britain’s policy shifted on Israel? aa.com.tr/en/europe/th...
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Interesting new job opening: Investigator, Arms and Armed Conflict with Amnesty careers.amnesty.org/jobs/vacancy...
careers.amnesty.org
Amnesty International Careers
Amnesty International Careers, Jobs, Search and Apply
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
“Over 1,400 people have been killed (in Gaza) in the year since the ceasefire.” - The Economist. I wonder how many have to be killed for it not to be called a ceasefire?
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe has also been charged with preparing acts of terror including against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Widdecombe suspect charged with planning acts of terror against Farage
Counter terror police say the further charge comes after a "hugely intensive and complex investigation".
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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
NUJ responds to reports of Conservative party banning Byline Times journalists from conference • www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj...
nuj.org.uk
NUJ responds to reports of Conservative party banning Byline Times journalists from conference
The NUJ has responded to reports that Byline Times journalists have been denied access to the Conservative Party conference.
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Kemi Badenoch condemned Reform's ban on critical journalists covering their conference as "authoritarian", saying her own party would never do the same as "we believe in free speech. We believe in a free press." Now the Conservatives have banned Byline Times from their conference
bylinetimes.com
Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives Ban Byline Times From Conference After Condemning Reform for Journalist Ban
The ban comes just weeks after the Conservative leader called Reform's barring of critical journalists from their conference an "authoritarian" attack on the free press
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Imagine if the RAF Fairford story turns out to be a bunch of right-wing lads trying to show what ‘might’ happen if small boat migrants decided to attack a US base in the UK.
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Global Investigative Journalism Network @gijn.org · 29/09/2026
Join @iainoverton.bsky.social on Oct 6th for this #GIJNAcademy training to learn investigating the technology behind modern warfare from surveillance infrastructure and automated decision-making to the financial flows that make it possible. Register here ⬇️ twp.ai/9OaMBb
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
MoD admits ‘regrettable failure’ after 97 million files discovered in SAS war crimes inquiry aoav.org.uk/2026/sas-war...
aoav.org.uk
MoD admits ‘regrettable failure’ after 97 million files discovered in SAS war crimes inquiryMoD admits ‘regrettable failure’ after 97 million files found in SAS war crimes inquiry - AOAV
The MoD has admitted a “regrettable failure” after 97 million files were discovered during the inquiry into alleged SAS war crimes in Afghanistan.
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Iain Overton @iainoverton.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Why does political violence persist in democracies? DIViNE is seeking expressions of interest for 10 PhD positions exploring this question. AOAV is a partner in the network. Deadline: 10 October. Formal applications open in October–November. divine.unimi.it/what-is-divi...
divine.unimi.it
What is DiViNE? - DIViNE
Democracies are commonly seen as able to channel contestation through institutionalized processes and nonviolent action. Yet, democratic polities frequently experience a broad range of political viole...
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Global Investigative Journalism Network @gijn.org · 25/09/2026
Join @iainoverton.bsky.social on Oct 6th for this #GIJNAcademy training to learn investigating the technology behind modern warfare from surveillance infrastructure and automated decision-making to the financial flows that make it possible. Register here ⬇️ twp.ai/9OaEpG
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