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Paul Brown

@paulybrown.bsky.social

5.8K followers 547 following 49 posts

Journo at BBC Verify and BBC Monitoring.

Posts Replies Media

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

There's a social media scam featuring AI-generated injured soldiers shilling moody goods. Be on the lookout. Great story from Nick Stapleton for BBC Morning Live. AI detection and sense-checking from me and @shayan86.bsky.social

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Three consecutive days of strikes on sites of giant Russian online retailer. 16 Wildberries sites hit in Russia since 17 July. Incl. verification by @paulybrown.bsky.social, @emmapengelly.bsky.social and @shayan86.bsky.social. Edited by @biancabritton.bsky.social www.tiktok.com/@bbcnews/vid...

After a brief pause, Ukraine has been targeting facilities operated by the company often described as the "Russian Amazon". #Ukraine #Russia #Wildberries #News #BBCNews

TikTok video by BBC News

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

QUEEN WORLD CUP #QueenWorldCup FINAL THREAD 1/x OK, here we go. We have had 1,753 votes in this tournament so far and they have sorted all the Queen songs 12 of my friends and I could think of to a last pair. Let's step onto the stage at the Hammersmith Apollo and pretend it's Christmas Eve.

media.tenor.com

a man is singing into a microphone while another man plays a guitar

Alt: An animation of Queen live on stage

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

MAGNIFICO-Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh! BEATLES WORLD CUP is no more. #BeatlesWorldCup Tomorrow, we kick off the QUEEN WORLD CUP. #QueenWorldCup. A knock-out tournament, songs going head-to-head each day, until we have determined the greatest ever Queen song. Get hyped. Or don't.

media.tenor.com

a man in a white shirt is standing on a stage with his mouth open and a purple background .

Alt: Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, in a white vest, standing on a stage and throwing his hand out triumphantly.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

/1 THREAD (Call it OSint if you want.) How we know where rebels trained in Syria, and how you can too. With a little bit of asking why Assad / Putin didn’t. Or, let me break down this video, it’s five months’ work in 65 seconds. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

How did rebels train to overthrow the President of Syria?

The BBC identifies videos of sites and training showing how the rebels formed a single force.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

1/ THREAD What can we tell about images of a strike on a bus in Marhanets, Ukraine earlier this week? On Wednesday, Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk, posted these images, saying nine people on the way to work at a local mining company were killed in the incident: t.me/dnipropetrov...

Screengrab of collage of four photos posted on Telegram by Serhiy Lysak showing aftermath of strike on a bus near Marhanets, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, morning of 23 April 2025.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Are you fed up with AI-generated action-figure starter packs? Plenty of illustrators are, and have taken up their pens. @twgerken.bsky.social asked me to drop in and work with the Tech desk by verifying some details. Then I got chatting to some creative types… www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

AI dolls are taking over - but real artists are sick of them

Artists hit back on social media to warn artificial intelligence may be endangering their livelihoods.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

1/ THREAD What do @paulybrown.bsky.social and I know about two strikes in Gaza today, which have reportedly killed at least 31 people? And how do we know? And how can you open-source investigate it, too? First: Khan Yunis, where Palestinian media say a family home was struck overnight.

A screengrab of seven photos published on Telegram by Palestine Daily Newspaper, showing destruction in central Khan Yunis, 2 April 2025

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

THREAD 1/ The Presidential Palace in Khartoum, Sudan, was taken back by the SAF on Friday. It’s a high-profile step in their aim to regain control of the capital from the RSF. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Here's a run-through of how we know how much we know.

Five key moments in the battle for Khartoum

BBC Verify examimes social media footage of the fight for control of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

1/ What can @paulybrown.bsky.social and I say about the strike in Beit Lahia yesterday? Or, what can you or I tell from images of the aftermath? You may have seen it covered here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Aid workers killed in Israeli air strike in Gaza, charity tells BBC

The Israeli military says it was targeting terrorists who

Reposted by Paul Brown

Alex Murray @leguape.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

TL;DR version: Sending M113s to Ukraine where they might be destroyed is probably cheapest & quickest way for DoD to get them out of inventory, fund $6.5m replacement & save on storage/demilitarization costs.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

1/THREAD Quick bit of geolocation work this afternoon with @paulybrown.bsky.social - trying to give BBC News outlets as much information as possible covering the knife attack in Mulhouse, France. In short, three videos and a still all located to within 200m of the market.

An image of police attending to a man lying on the ground, an image of Mulhouse market, and an image of a man sitting down with a police officer and a paramedic attending to him, each highlighted and pointing to a different position on a Google Maps image of Mulhouse.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

1/ THREAD What we know about a strike in Khan Yunis, Gaza, this morning. Yes: An explosive projectile fell from the sky, blowing up a van in Khan Yunis, pre-ceasefire. No: We can’t say what had happened to two bodies lying metres from the van minutes before. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ck...

Gaza ceasefire latest: Ceasefire sees displaced Gazans return home as Israel awaits hostages

A Red Cross team is on its way to pick up three hostages in Gaza - including UK-Israel national Emily Damari - before their return to Israel.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 16/01/2025

The situation in #Gaza, 15 months after Oct 7 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... @nickeardleybbc.bsky.social @paulybrown.bsky.social @matt-murphy96.bsky.social

How 15 months of war has devastated Gaza

BBC Verify examines how fighting has impacted civilians lives in Gaza, after over a year of fighting.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 15/01/2025

Almost 100 strikes in the IDF's unilaterally designated "humanitarian zone" in Gaza - and this figure doesn't take into account the many reported strikes which didn't have imagery from the scene for us to verify. W/ @richib.bsky.social and @paulybrown.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Almost 100 strikes in Gaza 'humanitarian zone', BBC Verify finds

The area in Gaza which Israel's military has told people to go to

Reposted by Paul Brown

Olga Robinson @olgar.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

BBC Verify has been analysing social media videos and images from Moscow to try to build up a clearer picture of the blast that killed Russian Lt Gen Igor Kirillov and his assistant. @matt-murphy96.bsky.social @joshcheetham.bsky.social @richib.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What verified videos tell us about Igor Kirillov's death

Footage from the scene shows a blast targeting the Russian general as he left a Moscow apartment block.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

THREAD - What do we know about videos of explosions in Moscow? 1/ Short answer: They're both right place, right time. How do we know? So, go back to this thread on how we verified where the two bodies were seen: bsky.app/profile/rich...

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

IT'S ONLY THE WORLD CUP FINAL #BeatlesWorldCup Welp, here we are. HERE COMES THE SUN v IN MY LIFE 64 songs were nominated, and we have reduced them by half over several rounds. Vote 1/person, in reply, for either #Sun or #Life Result at 9pm, I'll update throughout the day.

media.tenor.com

a black and white photo of the beatles singing .

Alt: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon clapping and cheering

Paul Brown @paulybrown.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Checking in on Syrian state TV for #OverthrowTunes. A limited playlist so far - and no videos yet. Message reads: "The victory of the great Syrian revolution and the overthrow of the criminal Assad regime"

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 06/12/2024

A follow up to our previous piece tracking rebel forces in Syria w/ @paulybrown.bsky.social @shayan86.bsky.social @merlynthomas.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Tracking Syrian rebels' lightning offensive as they approach key city

BBC Verify has been tracking the territory captured by Syrian rebels as they move towards Homs.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

THREAD - Have-a-go-yourself geolocation in Syria 1/ If you've not seen it, here's BBC Verify on rebel movements in NW Syria: www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/... The thumbnail is an example @paulybrown.bsky.social and I did. It's an instance of being certain of buildings, but guided by the wider layout.

BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria

It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years. BBC Verify has been tracking their advances.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Shayan Sardarizadeh @shayan86.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

If the screenshot concerns a politican, check their official social media accounts. If it's a politican from a specific country, look for well-known news outlets in that country. If you can't find the BBC or a reputable French news outlet reporting this fake Macron quote, then something's wrong.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Merlyn Thomas @merlynthomas.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years. BBC Verify has been tracking rebel advances by analysing and tracking footage on social media. @paulybrown.bsky.social @benedictgarman.com www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

BBC Verify tracks week of rebel advances in Syria

It’s been one week since rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Syrian government in years. BBC Verify has been tracking their advances.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 28/11/2024

IDF establishing new military corridor across northern Gaza, its third in #Gaza along with Netzarim and Philadelphi, with @nickeardleybbc.bsky.social & @matt-murphy96.bsky.social Analysis from @drhahellyer.bsky.social (RUSI) and Dr Eado Hecht (BESA) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Israel building new military dividing line across Gaza, satellite images suggest

Satellite images show the IDF has destroyed hundreds of buildings in north Gaza as it creates the divide.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

ABBEY SUBMARINE #BeatlesWorldCup If you're new to this: Each day I present two Beatles songs, we all vote for which is better. The winner will go into the Last 16. So: HEY BULLDOG (a personal fave) VS I WANT YOU (SHE'S SO HEAVY) (the reeeally long one off Abbey Rd) Vote #Hey or #Heavy by 10pm.

media.tenor.com

a cartoon of the beatles dancing with their arms outstretched

Alt: a cartoon of the beatles dancing with their arms outstretched

Reposted by Paul Brown

Daniele Palumbo @danict89.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

As Russian military accelerates its gains along the front line, the US decision to provide mines to Ukraine, and to allow the use of missiles on Russian territory, will play an important role in the next months of the war Great story by @olgar.bsky.social @paulybrown.bsky.social @leguape.bsky.social

Russian gains accelerate as Ukraine's Kursk gamble falters

Moscow's forces have taken more ground since September than they did over the course of 2023, analysts say.

Paul Brown @paulybrown.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Mayday! Mayday! A Day In The Life is about to be knocked out of #BeatlesWorldCup. Let's turn this around

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 18/11/2024

Checked with his management - this account really is Ed Balls...

Reposted by Paul Brown

Christopher Miller @christopherjm.ft.com · 17/11/2024

🚀 We're learning of a major US policy change on this Sunday evening that will make many here in Kyiv very pleased: President Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine to launch limited strikes into Russia using US-made long range missiles. @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/cc56...

Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US-supplied long-range missiles

US president had resisted move for fears of escalating conflict with Russia

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 14/11/2024

Two newly joined BBC Verify journos worth following: @biancabritton.bsky.social and @nickeardleybbc.bsky.social In addition to this long list of BBC journos: go.bsky.app/8gWbLmD #BBCVerify

Reposted by Paul Brown

Bartelds @bartelds.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

N. Korean troops dispatched to Russia already engaging in combat: spy agency en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2024...

(LEAD) N. Korean troops dispatched to Russia already engaging in combat: spy agency | Yonhap News Agency

(ATTN: ADDS more info throughout) SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korean troops dispatc...

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

THREAD/ BBC Verify are looking into claims a Russian naval officer has been killed in Sevastopol, in Russia-annexed Crimea, this morning. In short: Can't confirm death, can confirm car wreck. We've seen a lot of images, from which we've verified two videos (from which these stills are taken).

A car wreck outside the Novus store, Sevastopol, with the chp_sevastopol watermark

A car wreck in Sevastopol, with the Mash watermark

Reposted by Paul Brown

Tim White @twmcltd.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

First video of the moment #Russia blew up the dam near #StariTerny in free #Donetsk. Villages downstream of the #Kurakhiv reservoir started to flood. The true extent of the damage is not yet known. #RussiaIsATerroristState

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE #BeatlesWorldCup (Hello new followers, let me amuse you with a knock-out tournament of Beatles songs.) What's better: Across The Universe or Eleanor Rigby? Vote #Across or #Eleanor in reply, I'll count 'em, with some private votes, and let you know, 10pm, Abbey Road time.

media.tenor.com

the beatles are posing for a black and white photo together .

Alt: the Beatles are posing for a black and white photo together .

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 28/10/2024

Been working with @shayan86.bsky.social using satellite imagery to monitor the impact of Israel's strikes on Iran www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What satellite images reveal about strikes on Iran

BBC Verify has analysed satellite imagery from Iran to assess damage from Israeli air strikes.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 27/10/2024

Today, @benedictgarman.com and I have been looking into Gilot, Israel, and Sidon, Lebanon. (And Kherson and Gaza.) Here's what social media videos could tell us about the scene soon after a truck hit people at a bus stop, north of Tel Aviv: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4... Verification thread, below.

Israel-Gaza latest: Israeli PM Netanyahu heckled by Hamas attack victims’ relatives at memorial

Israel’s prime minister has been interrupted at a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem marking those killed in the 7 October attack.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Shayan Sardarizadeh @shayan86.bsky.social · 27/10/2024

A LinkedIn post, written by local man Eddie Murray, had an outsized effect in stirring up the false belief that the Southport attack suspect was a migrant. Murray's false post quickly became a credible source for many ahead of the Southport riot. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Southport riot: How a LinkedIn post helped spark unrest - BBC tracks its spread

The social media post was quickly taken down, but screenshots were viewed millions of times.

Paul Brown @paulybrown.bsky.social · 21/10/2024

Tasty fixture in @richib.bsky.social's #BeatlesWorldCup today

Paul Brown @paulybrown.bsky.social · 16/10/2024

Join us

Paul Brown @paulybrown.bsky.social · 12/10/2024

The latest from BBC Verify on Israeli air strikes in Beirut www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

BBC Verify examines air strike patterns in Beirut

Lebanon's health ministry says 22 people have died and more than 117 were left wounded after air strikes in central Beirut.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 08/10/2024

Three videos and a photo, three from Iran Park and one from eastern side of town, show IDF controlling parts of Maroun al Ras, southern Lebanon, close to the UN outpost 652. Here's a roundup of what @shayan86.bsky.social, @paulybrown.bsky.social and I could stand up: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cq...

Israel-Lebanon latest: No safe place in Beirut, says mayor, as Israel says potential Hezbollah leader 'probably' dead

Israeli strikes continue in the Lebanese capital, as Hezbollah fires more than 100 rockets at the northern Israeli city of Haifa.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 06/10/2024

Jeremy Bowen on the legacy of Oct 7, a year on. With contributions from @paulybrown.bsky.social, @mesutersoz.bsky.social (and me) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Year on from 7 October, Jeremy Bowen says killing and broken assumptions have taken Middle East to edge of deeper war

Twelve months on from the 7 October attacks which led to Israel's war in Gaza, our international editor says the region is on the edge of something even worse.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 01/10/2024

Combined effort from @paulybrown.bsky.social @benedictgarman.com and Victoria Park, and myself, to get this together, given any single video takes two people to agree as verified. A bit of transparency, hopefully, behind Verify efforts in Beirut this morning. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...

Israel-Lebanon latest: Iran preparing to launch missile attack on Israel, says US, as Israel invades southern Lebanon

A senior White House official says an attack on Israel would

Paul Brown @paulybrown.bsky.social · 29/09/2024

A quick whizz through some of the tricks BBC Verify used to analyse footage of the strikes that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Watch: BBC Verify analyses footage of Israeli strikes on Beirut

How the BBC worked out the facts about blasts in Lebanon's capital from clues in social media footage.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Shayan Sardarizadeh @shayan86.bsky.social · 08/09/2024

A false story on a obscure website has been widely circulated online after it baselessly claimed that Kamala Harris was involved in an alleged hit-and-run incident in San Francisco in 2011 that left a 13-year-old girl paralysed. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Baseless claim about Kamala Harris crash spread by mysterious site

The false story has been viewed millions of times online - we break down how you can know it was fake.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Benedict Garman @benedictgarman.com · 08/09/2024

Latest piece is on Israel paving Philadelphi Corridor while it remains sticking point in ceasefire negotiations, with insight from @andreaskrieg.bsky.social www.bbc.com/news/article...

Satellite images show how Israel is paving key Gaza road

BBC Verify looks at roadwork that analysts say shows Israel is unlikely to fully withdraw from Gaza any time soon.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Richard Irvine-Brown @richib.bsky.social · 13/02/2024

Here's what Verify does really well: Confirm locations and times, quickly and accurately. Here's what @herdjemimah.bsky.social does really well: Put it all together into an understandable package for your eyes. twitter.com/HerdJemimah/...

Screengrab from BBC Verify digital video on the situation in Rafah, Gaza Strip

Produced by Jemima Herd, graphics by Jacqueline Galvin

Reposted by Paul Brown

Shayan Sardarizadeh @shayan86.bsky.social · 21/12/2023

DC Weekly, a website founded by a former US Marine now living in Russia, has fuelled disinformation stories about Zelensky and Ukraine, including a fake story that he bought two luxury yachts with US aid money, later repeated by Senator JD Vance and Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene.

How pro-Russian 'yacht' propaganda influenced US debate over Ukraine aid

A false rumour spread by a dubious AI-powered website caught the attention of leading politicians.

Reposted by Paul Brown

Gunnar "Hoot Hoot" 🦉 Hamann @ostprog.eurosky.social · 15/12/2023

“A vast Russian influence operation on TikTok involving 12,800 fake accounts spreading disinformation about the war in Ukraine to millions of users in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Israel and Ukraine, has been uncovered by BBC Verify and @dfrlab.bsky.social.“ Via @shayan86.bsky.social.

Ukraine war: How TikTok fakes pushed Russian lies to millions

The BBC uncovers a vast Russia-based network of fake TikTok accounts pushing disinformation about Ukraine.