iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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

914292 142

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

952 9

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.

2127 12

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/...

bbc.co.uk

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.

12013 20

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.

1184 18

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...

bbc.co.uk

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.

084 8

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

13318 33

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.

bbc.co.uk

Five key moments in the battle for Khartoum

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

14316 43

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...

bbc.co.uk

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

The Israeli military says it was targeting terrorists who

145 5

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.

188 8

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.

141 4

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...

bbc.co.uk

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.

1218 21

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...

bbc.co.uk

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

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

37949 79

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...

bbc.co.uk

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.

13915 39

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...

161 6

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

5174 51

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"

130 3

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.co.uk

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.

22913 29

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.

212319 123

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.co.uk

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.

096 9

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...

bbc.co.uk

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.

33828 38

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

23123 23

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

bbc.co.uk

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.

042 4

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

020 2

Reposted by Paul Brown

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

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

813623 136

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...

ft.com

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

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

1549984 499

Paul Brown @paulybrown.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

I am on shift and but found myself in a different part of the city

010 1

Paul Brown @paulybrown.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

I think it was the mighty @paulmyersbbc.bsky.social who wanted the recount, but I'm honoured all the same

110 1

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

1177 17

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

35314 53

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

12610 26

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 .

914 9