Learn
Access the guides and curricula you need to learn investigation skills and to run your own workshops with others
Guides
About the Guides
We develop guides and other self-learning resources about methods, tools and good practices of online and offline investigation. Here you will find a series of guides developed by the Exposing the Invisible (ETI) team as well as by our expert contributors - all based on practical experiences and tested techniques.
We also feature a selection of guides and resources form partner organisations and other reputable sources.
We invite you to explore these guides and to reach out to us with feedback and suggestions of any other great investigation resources you encounter.
Workshops
About the Workshops
Exposing the Invisible provides workshop curricula for anyone interested in running their own investigative workshops or trainings. We offer a structure, techniques, tips and recommended tools that can be used to train on various topics and methods of online and offline investigation.
Most of the workshops are based on topics from our Exposing the Invisible Kit and can be adapted to specific contexts.
We will be adding new workshop curriculum and additional materials in this space and we invite you to send us feedback, suggestions for improvement or ideas for collaboration.
Environment Collaborative Investigations
People, Power, Planet - Module 1. Start Digging Using OSINT
Using open source intelligence (OSINT) tools and methods for climate and environmental investigations.
| This workshop introduces some of the key tools and methods from open source intelligence (OSINT) which participants can apply to climate and environmental investigations. It will guide trainers through delivering practical, hands-on sessions with exercises to help participants who want to start investigations into the urgent topics facing our planet.
Duration: 3h:30m
Participants: 8 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Navigating Sensitive Stories: A Guide to Ethical Engagement with Vulnerable Sources
Drawing on over a decade of investigative reporting experience,
this practical guide by Stavros Malichudis in collaboration with Tactical Tech
offers concrete steps in working with vulnerable sources.
Ocean Datasets for Investigations
Learn how to identify and use Ocean datasets as a tool for
revealing the unseen or underreported dynamics of the world's most significant
bodies of water.
How To Use European Air Pollution Data To Hold Companies Accountable
Journalist Olaya Argüeso Pérez shares techniques, tools, data
sources and practical tips on how to find out which companies are contributing
to worsening air quality across Europe.
Political influence
How Political Campaigns Use Personal Data
This introductory workshop is for researchers, activists,
technologists, and anyone curious to know more about the use of personal data
in political campaigns. The workshop addresses foundational information about
personal data and explores its multifaceted relevance to political influence.
Participants, regardless of their expertise, will engage in discussions and
activities to grasp the intricacies of different data categories, real-world
examples with relevance to current politics, and share experiences from their
personal or professional realms, facilitating the identification of...
Duration: 3h
Participants: 6 – 24 participants
Included in plan: Workshop plan and additional readings
Political influence
Understanding Political Data as an Asset and Intelligence
This workshop explores how data-driven technologies are used in
political influence, in particular what data is collected, bought, and sold to
political parties, how this data is used to profile voters and to target
political influence, as well as how data is used to enhance the success of a
political campaign. Participants, regardless of their expertise, will engage
in discussions and activities to grasp the intricacies of different
data-driven technologies. The workshop aims to cultivate a collaborative space
for participants to share experiences from their personal or...
Duration: 3h:30m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and additional readings
Exposing the Invisible Workshops: A Facilitator’s Guide
Welcome to the Facilitator’s Guide for "Exposing the Invisible"
Workshops! This resource includes general guidelines and tips for facilitators
and trainers who wish to conduct workshops based on the curricula we provide
on this website. You will find a brief background about the workshops,
suggested tools and activities as well as recommendations on how to start, run
and conclude a workshop. You can adapt these guidelines and our workshop plans
according to your audience's needs and context.
Included in plan: Useful background information about the workshops' structure, activities and tools, including how trainers can apply and adapt them to various audiences or contexts.
Communication Collaborative Investigations Interviews
A “New Narratives” Approach to Investigations
This workshop provides participants with skills and methods to
identify, investigate and tell social stories that are relevant to local
communities in order to connect audiences to topics which affect them. It
applies a “new narratives” approach to creating and telling stories, aiming to
improve the social impact of investigations in terms of collaborative efforts,
evidence shared and audience reached. The workshop is particularly recommended
to NGO researchers, community members, activists and others who wish to
conduct local investigations that meet journalistic standards.
Duration: 5h
Participants: 6 - 20
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Evaluating Evidence
Investigating the Unfamiliar
This workshop provides participants with a generic framework for
planning and structuring research on new and unfamiliar topics. It focuses on
adapting and expanding their previous knowledge, skills and methodologies to
help navigate new investigation scenarios and contexts. The workshop is
recommended for participants who have at least basic experience and awareness
with conducting research online and / or in the field.
Duration: 3h:30m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
The Human Element of Investigations: (1) Identifying and Reaching Out to Sources Safely
This workshop is part of a four-module training plan addressing
"the human element of investigations", namely the interaction between
investigators / researchers and people who may become their sources of
information. In this module participants will learn how to identify and reach
out to sources and interviewees in a safe manner, and how to assess and
mitigate potential risks.
Duration: 3h
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
The Human Element of Investigations: (2) Conducting Interviews
This workshop is part of a four-module training plan addressing
"the human element of investigations", namely the interaction between
investigators / researchers and people who may become their sources of
information. It follows the workshop on “The Human Element: Identifying and
Reaching Out to Sources Safely” (which should come first for beginners). This
second workshop provides participants with techniques, skills and best
practices to safely interview and maintain contact with human sources
providing evidence during investigations.
Duration: 2h:10m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
The Human Element of Investigations: (3) Managing Sources
This workshop is part of a four-module training plan addressing
"the human element of investigations", namely the interaction between
investigators / researchers and people who may become their sources of
information. As the final module in the series, it provides an introduction to
managing contacts for investigations, including how to develop, interact with
and maintain safe and effective collaboration with human sources to enrich
investigations.
Duration: 2h:50m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
The Human Element of Investigations: (4) Interviews requiring special approaches
This workshop is part of a four-module training plan addressing
"the human element of investigations", namely the interaction between
investigators / researchers and people who may become their sources of
information. It provides participants with necessary skills to safely approach
and interview sources in unknown or hostile places, as well as with methods to
address people who are vulnerable or may become adversarial over the course of
an investigation.
Duration: 2h:30m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
How to Track Disinformation Networks
This workshop introduces the basics of networked disinformation and
manipulation campaigns, helping participants acquire a methodology for
discovering, mapping and tracking networks of disinformation in different
languages and contexts. Participants gain awareness that disinformation and
manipulation campaigns are multi-dimensional, and that digital investigators
need to adopt a networked approach (looking for connections on multiple
platforms) in order to "expose the invisible" behind disinformation campaigns.
Duration: 4h (including optional activities)
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Evaluating Evidence
Evaluating Evidence and Information Sources
In this workshop, participants will learn how to analyse and verify
collected information, as well as how to evaluate information sources to be
able to assess the reliability of research / investigation findings.
Duration: 3h:10m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Investigation is Collaboration: How to Make it Work
This workshop introduces participants to practical ways of finding common ground for working together while navigating and addressing key aspects such as ethics, motivation, context, experiences, goals, etc. Through various exercises, participants will become aware of, and help manage situations where varying reasons and differences can make it hard for people to collaborate, with the aim to understand the collective methods that would enable a team to contribute to the project to the best of their ability.
Duration: 4h:40m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Crowdsourcing Information for Investigations
This workshop provides participants with the essential methods,
tools, examples and considerations to be aware of when planning and managing a
crowdsourcing effort. It also demonstrates the role of crowdsourcing as a
method increasingly used by journalists, activists, researchers and others to
engage with communities to collect information, verify it and build evidence
that can help expose issues affecting societies everywhere.
Duration: 4h
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan, trainer's guides and activity templates
Communication
Communicating Investigations
This workshop demonstrates the importance of communicating
investigation findings, and provides methods and tips about investigative
"storytelling." It aims to familiarize participants with the process of
defining communication goals, identifying audiences, designing a communication
plan adapted to contexts, utilizing various communication formats and channels
and understanding how they impact the message and the audiences alike.
Duration: 3h:50m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Environment
Investigating Climate Change Adaptation: Methods and Principles
This workshop introduces participants to basic principles of
climate change adaptation. It provides guidance and tips on investigating
exposure to climate impacts, vulnerabilities and coping capacities that
participants can apply to their local context. Participants will gain
awareness on the complex relationship between climate change, public policies
and societal safety, as well as potential wrongdoing related to climate change
adaptation.
Duration: 3h:40m
Participants: 8 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Struck by a Drone, Verified by Humans: Methods for geolocating a Russian drone strike in Ukraine
This is a case-based guide detailing our methodology to verify a
Russian drone strike allegedly targeted at the Aidar battalion, geolocated to
Starohnativka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. It serves as a guide to replicating
the methodology as well as a tutorial for using open source methods, tools and
crowdsourced material on Twitter to verify Russia’s claims in the war in
Ukraine.
An Investigator’s Introduction to Risk Management
This workshop aims to introduce participants to basic principles of
risk assessment and risk management, which they can apply to their
professional and personal contexts. It provide a working process and guidance
on how to conduct a risk assessment and use this assessment as a tool for
making decisions at an individual and/or team level.
Duration: 2h:45m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
How the Internet Works
This short workshop helps participants to understand how the
internet is structured, and which journey information takes when traveling
from the end user to the providers of information and vice versa. Participants
will gain awareness of where the main digital safety risks are and how they
look like for various scenarios.
Duration: 1h / 1h:20m
Participants: 6-24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Safety First! Basics of Preventive Digital Safety
This workshop introduces participants to the basics of preventive digital safety and risk awareness measures, which they can apply to their own context. It also provides the main principles and criteria of assessing and deciding what digital tools to choose based on specific individual or group / team situations and needs.
Duration: 2h:40m
Participants: 6-24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
Web Archiving and Retrieving Archived Information Online
This workshop introduces participants to methods, tools and tips to find and retrieve historical and ‘lost’ information from websites, as well as to archive and preserve copies of webpages for future reference and evidence that something existed online.
Duration: 2h:40m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
.jpg)
Advanced Online Search and Dorking
This workshop introduces participants to advanced internet search
methods, tips and tools, all under the umbrella of a technique known as
“dorking.” Participants will learn and practice the technique across
different search engines, while applying it to various investigation contexts.
The workshop also includes tips on essential digital safety and privacy
aspects relevant when searching, collecting and sharing information online.
Duration: 2h:40m
Participants: 6 - 24
Included in plan: Workshop plan and activity templates
More than Meets the Eye: Geolocating Images Using Creativity and SunCalc
Geolocation means finding the real world location of an object,
such as the place where a photograph or a video was taken. Determining the
exact location of where and when an image was taken can be critical for an
investigation as it can often provide useful evidence to verify and
corroborate other pieces of your story's puzzle. The geolocation process is
rarely straightforward but there are various methods - some more creative than
others - of doing so. This case-based guide shows you how to mix and match
methods, tools and a curious mindset to address a geolocation challenge.
Exposing the Invisible - The Kit
The Kit is a collaborative, self-learning resource that makes
investigative techniques and tools used by experienced investigators more
accessible to people and communities who feel motivated to start their own
investigations, collect and verify information, build evidence and create a
better understanding of issues without losing sight of ethical or safety
considerations.
Investigate - The Manual
Launched by the Civil Forum for Asset Recovery (CiFAR) in June
2021, "Investigate - The Manual" is a guide designed to provide an overview of
state of the art practices in investigative journalism, with a focus on
illicit financial flows and asset recovery.
Follow the Money: A digital guide for tracking corruption
Investigative reporter Paul Radu reveals his methods of tracking
corruption and organised crime by "following the money".
Quick Guide to Alternatives
When you use a tool, your data land ups with the company that owns
that tool. The only way to really keep your data out of corporate hands is to
use alternative, free and open source tools instead. Find out what's out
there.
The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance
Brett Scott, publisher of Heretic's Guide to Global Finance,
describes his work as a "friendly guide to taking on the world's most powerful
system". The book also showcases the growing alternative finance movement,
including peer-to-peer systems, alternative currencies, and co-operative
economies.
The Info-Activism How-To Guide
A comprehensive tool by Tactical Tech to teach activists the basics
of evidence-based activism.
FAIR Legal Guide for Investigative Journalism
Based on English law and written by British lawyer Korieh Duodu,
the guide aims at helping investigative journalists from developing countries
to defend themselves when confronted with legal attacks.
Unlocking Data from PDFs
A deep dive on scraping and parsing, reverse engineering a digital
document to make the data in it more useful.
Me & My Shadow
A Tactical Tech website that allows you to trace your “digital
shadow” - all the data you disseminate when you are online – and then shows
you how to reduce it while enhancing your online privacy.
Visualising Information for Advocacy: The Book
Tactical Tech's free online book about how advocates and activists
use visual elements in their campaigns.
Security in-a-box
Tactical Tech resources that show you how to remain anonymous
online, how to protect your data and communications and how to set up the
tools you need in order to achieve this.
Maps for Advocacy: A set of Tactical Tech tools
Created by Tactical Tech in 2008 and updated in 2010, the booklet demystifies the step-by-step process of producing and sharing maps, using data sources like Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Socialight and others.
Dealing with Trauma
A list of helpful resources addressed to civil society members
facing stress, threat and trauma in their work.
School of Data: A series of tutorials on working with data
A project by the Open Knowledge Foundation teaching you all you
need to know about dealing with data through online courses and tutorials -
from where to find it, to making attractive (and efficient!) visualisations.
Domain Games: Role-playing an online identity
Guide featuring a step-by-step approach to setting up a new website
when privacy is a significant concern.
Behind the Data: Investigating metadata
A guide that looks at how metadata has been used to expose, protect
and verify abuses and excesses of power.
Mobile Phone Security
Resources you can use to learn about phone security.
Starting Satellite Investigations
In 2006, a group of Bahraini activists used Google Earth to view
palaces and land owned by the elite that was situated next to overcrowded
cities. This exploration revealed vast stretches of unused open spaces along
with luxury properties and golf courses, all owned by the ruling minority.
Drone Survival Guide
A playful art project to inform citizens about the dangers and
capabilities of drones worldwide.
DIY Drone Shadows
A handbook, in which author James Briddle gives guidance on how to draw a drone shadow, including advice on measuring, materials, and schematics for four of the most common drone types.
ONO Robot's Guide to Staying Safe on the Internet
A Tactical Tech series of short animations featuring the character
ONO, a friendly robot whose mission is to teach you how to use the internet,
social networks, and your phones, securely.
Scraping Web Data
This guide presents a series of steps that can be used to automate
the collection of online HTML tables and the transformation of those tables
into a more useful format. This process is often called "Web scraping."
Scraping Web Data - Sample table
A sample table related to the "Scraping web data" guide, to help
organise the way you index information you collect via scraping.
Scraper Bremen
Scraper for information about CCTV cameras in Bremen
Hacker News Spider
Copy and paste the "spider" code below into a new file, such as
`spider-hacker-news.py` and run it from Terminal.
Scraper for Refugee Resources in Berlin
Copy and paste the "spider" code below into a new file, such as
`spider-kreuzberg.py` and run it from Terminal.
Scraping Web Data - Spider template
Copy and paste the "spider" code below into a new file, such as `spider-template.py`. Edit the "User variables" and then run it from Terminal.
Smart Searching with GoogleDorking
Using search engines to their full capacity to expose the unfindable.
OpenVPN over Tor (VoT)
A step-by-step guide to configure OpenVPN with Tor browser using Terminal.
Digital Resources for Citizen Investigators: Our recommendations
Many of us currently live and work in a challenging physical
isolation imposed on us by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are constantly
bombarded with digital information. Some of it is biased, some of it is fake,
and some of it can cause unnecessary panic. Now is the perfect moment to
polish your evidence collection and verification skills - so we've compiled a
package of recommended resources we've been developing for
investigation-hungry citizens.
Leak and Onion Soup
A guide about using Tor ("the onion router") to read, verify and
process leaked data, which might come with a risk.
Decoding Data
A selections of topics, approaches and ideas for those who are
thinking of getting better at working with data and want to see how others
struggled before them.
Verification Handbook
A guide to verifying digital content and navigating today's
(dis)information environment.
Geojournalism Toolkit
The Geojournalism Toolkit was born when a group of environmental
journalists felt a new approach was needed to make sense of the vast
quantities of data being created by scientists about environmental issues, in
order to tell an engaging story.
An Idiot's Guide to Money Laundering
A tongue-in-cheek "Idiot's Guide to Money Laundering" created by
Global Witness, an organisation specialising in investigations and campaigns
to combat conflict and corruption in the natural resources industry.
Digging into digital images: Extracting batch location data automatically
A how-to guide covering the basic steps for using open-source metadata extraction software on your desktop and extracting geolocation information from a large number of images.
Who, what, why, where? Verification of online data
Misinformation can spread at a feverish pace and in this chapter we
will address the essential verification questions of where, what, why and who
as well as introduce a number of tools and techniques to assist investigators
with verifying data that they find online.
VPN Over Tor
Using VPN over Tor for a secure anonymous connection to the internet
Who is WHOIS?
To lookup where domain names are registered you can use a database
that stores the information of registered domains.