In the 14th edition of the Spotlight Fact-Check & OSINT Review, EBU members joined Maria Flannery to explore evolving tactics of digital manipulation and the critical role of cross-border journalistic collaboration.
Quentin Peschard and Derek Thomson (France 24 Observers) delivered a masterclass in forensic investigation, detailing their deep dive into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Sudan. They demonstrated how tracking a fraction-of-a-second serial number on an aerial drop near Sudan’s largest oil refinery exposed foreign importers—evidence now cited by the US State Department at the OPCW.
Belén López Garrido (EBU Investigative Journalism Network) shared the frameworks behind the network’s latest cross-border exposé: the “Donor 7069” investigation. Coordinating 30 journalists across 14 countries, the project revealed how a single sperm donor with a high-risk genetic mutation fathered 197 children.
Drawing on investigations like “Playing with Fire” and “The Missing Children of Ukraine”, she illustrated how the EBU Network synchronizes dozens of reporters across Europe to tackle complex global narratives.
The session provided attendees with the essential forensic tools and collaborative models needed to verify content and combat sophisticated disinformation in today’s media landscape.
Upcoming Fact-Check & OSINT Reviews
If you would like to participate as a speaker in an upcoming Fact-Check & OSINT Review, please email bowler@ebu.ch.
