george sargent – social media verification tips

Social media video and photograph verification tips

Helicopter “shot down in Ukraine”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYyyais-mCY

- Aspect Ratio

- Poor quality

- Clear edit points

- Strange, looping audio

- No audio of speech/celebration

- YouTube channel name

- Description language

Amnesty International tool

http://www.amnestyusa.org/citizenevidence/

Original report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99OnGK-S_zc

Hama - alleged Russian helicopters on manoeuvres

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIKa4_ZCNXc

Joseph Dempsey - Research Analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies

“The Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter has been deployed by Russia to Syria but is also in use with Syrian forces.

However Syria is only known to have procured the Mi-24D (Hind D) which has a trainable four barrelled 12.7mm chin mounted machine gun.

This feature is not apparent on the helicopters in the video suggesting a later Mi-24P (Hind-F) variant which has two fixed 30mm cannon mounted

on the side instead.

These helicopters are therefore likely to be operated by Russia – it is also uncommon to see Syrian Hinds operating so low and in coordinated pairs.”

IS “in control of Kobani”

Google reverse image search

Tin Eyehttps://www.tineye.com/

http://fotoforensics.com/

• Study the video/photographs very closely• Share the video/photographs with colleagues • Communicate concerns with them• Use the tools• Trust your instincts

Thanks!