Tactical Tech

In The Loop July 2025

13 minutes read | First published: July 14, 2025
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ℹ️🧼🔍 Fighting information pollution together. Why strengthen the investigative community?

In a world flooded with misinformation, investigators, journalists, and media actors play a vital role in equipping society to make sense of it all and form informed opinions on critical issues. To achieve this, they require tools, resources, and spaces for collaboration.
We support actors in the information landscape and digital practitioners, providing them with the skills and community needed to harness technology for public-interest investigations and strengthen a healthier information ecosystem.
Participants of the Digital Investigation Residency 2024 organised by Tactical Tech
Participants of the Digital Investigation Residency 2024 organised by Tactical Tech

📣 Apply Now: "To AI or Not to AI – The Uses of AI in Digital Investigations", the hands-on training in Berlin you can't miss!

Join us this fall in Berlin for a three-day, hands-on event to acquire practical skills and methodologies for navigating the AI-driven landscape of digital investigations. Whether you’re a journalist, researcher, advocate, or digital rights defender, if you're curious about the role of AI in public-interest investigations, this is for you. You’ll define your own boundaries—deciding when, why, and how to use these tools, while learning to mitigate the risks of over-reliance. "To AI or Not to AI" will equip you with critical skills, tools, and frameworks to:
  • Research and sourcing Information
  • Enhance storytelling processes
  • Improve content creation and fact-checking workflows
  • Navigate the digital safety risks AI introduces
Early bird deadline: August 8, 2025. Final deadline: September 8, 2025
Learn more & apply>
Participants of the Digital Investigation Residency 2024, organised by Tactical Tech
Pictures by Tactical Tech

Tech, media, & investigative journalism: Discover our new guides full of investigative tactics, tools, and tips 🔍

🌬️ How to use air pollution data to hold companies accountable?

Want to find out which companies are contributing to worsening air quality across Europe? This practical guide by investigative journalist Olaya Argüeso Pérez shows you how to navigate European emissions datasets and make sense of what pollution data can (and can’t) tell you. It’s a must-read for anyone investigating climate, industry, or public health. Read it here.

🌊 Ocean datasets for investigations

Given our current planetary condition, many of the world’s most pressing stories are linked to the ocean. This guide, written by researchers Mae Lubetkin and Kevin Rosa, explains 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. Read it here.

🛠️ Many ways up the mountain: The art of source hacking

Forget the shiny new tools, let’s talk creativity. This piece delves into the scrappy, inventive world of “source hacking”: the art of repurposing everyday technology for open-source investigations. From modifying consumer gadgets to mining unlikely data sources, author Tyler McBrien explores how investigators bend tech to their will, often in ways it was never designed for. Explore the story.

📝 Navigating sensitive stories: A guide to ethical engagement with vulnerable sources

How should journalists and researchers approach sources who have experienced trauma? How can they do so in a way that avoids unintentionally re-traumatising them? Drawing on over a decade of investigative reporting experience, this practical guide by reporter and editor Stavros Malichudis offers concrete steps in working with vulnerable sources. Read the guide here.
Event participants

🎥 Check out our brand-new video series on investigative methods and techniques!

This video series examines how OSINT tools, storytelling strategies, eye-catching visualizations, smart mapping, and cross-border collaboration can amplify the impact of investigations and effectively engage with audiences. These talks are part of Tactical Tech’s Digital Investigation Residency 2024, where over 50 media professionals from 24 countries came together to explore how investigations can address urgent global issues. Catch the full video series here. Here’s what you’ll find:
  • ▶️ Looking At What Is – Jürgen Geuter challenges dominant tech narratives by exposing the hidden assumptions behind innovation hype and reframing how we talk about socio-technical systems. Watch here.
  • ▶️ What Makes A Good Map? – Riccardo Pravettoni explores the power of visual storytelling in global crisis contexts. Watch here.
  • ▶️ Investigation Is A Mindset – Jasmine Erkan and Wael Eskander break down how anyone can think like an investigator. Watch here.
  • ▶️ How To Make Readers Care – Kaamil Ahmed on reaching overwhelmed audiences through empathy-driven reporting. Watch here.
Event participants

🎥 Recorded session: The Killings They Tweeted: Screening and Q&A with Airwars

How can publicly available military footage be used to uncover the human cost of conflict? In this session, Tactical Tech's Jasmine Erkan sits down with Rowena De Silva from Airwars, a London-based civilian harm watchdog, to explore their recent investigation: the largest public analysis to date of Israeli military strike footage. Watch here.

🌱📱Digital technologies and Climate Action

🌍 The latest article for Project Syndicate: Information Pollution Is Undermining Climate Progress

🌍 The latest article for Project Syndicate: Information Pollution Is Undermining Climate Progress How is climate action being derailed by an increasingly toxic information ecosystem? This must-read piece by Lili Fuhr (CIEL) and Stephanie Hankey (Tactical Tech) examines how information pollution, primarily driven by Big Tech business models, is quietly undermining meaningful climate action and what can be done about it. Read the article here.

Digital Influence & democracy 🗳️

🧠 The Opinionator experience: How are your views being shaped online?

Who influences your opinions, and why? Political parties and interest groups have long used the Internet to disseminate information or even deliberately influence opinions. With AI-powered ads, personalised content, and algorithmic nudges, the digital world is a battleground for your beliefs. The Opinionator online empowers you to understand and resist these forces through an interactive, playful, and revealing journey. Experience here. Available in English and German. In collaboration with the Futurium.

[💼 New case study] Pay to Win: Services of the Influence Industry in Election Campaigns

Did you know that dis/misinformation is just one of 35 services political parties can hire to influence, and sometimes manipulate, public opinion, win elections, and shape democracy? “Pay to Win: Services of the Influence Industry in Election Campaigns,” by investigator Amber Macintyre, explains how Tactical Tech’s Influence Industry project used open-source intelligence techniques to identify a wide range of digital campaign services offered by consultants, ad agencies, and data brokers. Read the case study and explore the database

[🇵🇭 New case study] Influence Campaigns in the Philippines: A Case of Normalised Manipulation

From deep political feuds to foreign red flags, the Philippines’ digital campaign landscape is a warning for democracies everywhere. Author Regine Cabato examines the AI-powered smear campaigns, political influencer networks, and cross-platform strategies that are shaping the 2025 midterm elections. Read here.

[📲 New case study] Small Audiences, Big Impact: Micro-Influencers in US Elections

Who needs big media when a trusted face on TikTok can sway your vote? Micro-influencers, often unregulated and unlabelled, are playing a growing role in shaping political narratives. This new case study by investigators Cassiane Cladis and Amber Macintyre, examines how the creator economy is quietly evolving into a powerful campaign tool. Read the case study here.

EVENTS THAT EMPOWER YOU 💡

[🖥️Online Workshop] Generative AI & Civil Society: Threats and Opportunities. July 25, 2025, 15:00–17:30 (CET). Online session.

How is generative AI reshaping civil society organizing? On July 25, Tactical Tech’s Marek Tuszynski joins academics and practitioners to address this urgent question at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting. The workshop explores the role of AI in grassroots organizing across political regimes. Organised by Alice Mattoni, Julie Uldam, and Noomi Weinryb. Learn more.

[💭Online panel] Uniting Knowledge, Building the Future IFLA World Library Information Congress 2025. August 18 - 25, 2025. Astana, Kazakhstan, and online.

Amid rising global tensions and the spread of dis/misinformation, libraries are playing a crucial role in reducing polarization and promoting equitable access to AI literacy worldwide. In the session "What Have We Learned from Library-Led AI Literacy" on August 21st, Tactical Tech’s Louise Hisayasu will share insights from the collaboration between Tactical Tech and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. She will explore how targeted interventions can empower libraries to become digital literacy champions and educators. Learn more.

[📛 In-person conference] The International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress: Defending the Future of Free Media. October 23-25. Vienna.

This year’s theme marks 75 years of IPI with a forward-looking agenda focused on defending press freedom, strengthening resilience, and imagining the future of public-interest journalism. Learn more.

[📛 In-person conference] News Impact Summit: Elevating Journalism with AI. October 9, 2025. Warsaw.

Hosted by the European Journalism Centre, this summit delves into the potential of AI to enhance reporting, engagement, and ethics in journalism. Tactical Tech’s co-founder, Marek Tuszynski, will be speaking at the event. Expect panels, hands-on workshops, and real-world AI tools you can apply to your editorial work. Learn more and register here.

[📛 In-person conference] 4D Conference: Democratic Digitalisation & Digital Rights. October 28. Barcelona.

A full-day exchange on digital sovereignty, public infrastructures, and civil rights in the digital age. Organised by XNET and ACCENT OBERT, the 4D Conference is your opportunity to learn from cutting-edge democratic digitalization movements and shape recommendations for the future of digital rights. Multilingual access: Catalan, Spanish, English. Learn more.

[☀️ Summer School] BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting. August 25-30, Pristina.

This Summer School brings together 30 journalists for an immersive week of high-level training with Pulitzer-nominated reporters, data experts, and OSINT specialists. Applications close July 13. Don’t miss your chance to level up your investigative skills and join a cross-border community of reporters. Learn more.

OUR CREATIVE EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE WORLD 🖼️

➡️ The Glass Room in the Fake News exhibition. El valor de la información. Until July 31, 2025. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tactical Tech's The Glass Room: Misinformation Edition is featured in the Fake News exhibition, showcasing artworks that explore various types of misinformation and ways to combat its spread. Find out more
➡️ Tactical Tech’s interactive exhibition Supercharged by AI has reached 64+ venues across four continents, sparking critical conversations about artificial intelligence and digital rights. In Europe, it was hosted by national and university libraries in over 10 countries — from Zagreb to Athens, Lisbon to Kyiv — thanks to support from the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF). And beyond Europe, it travelled to Bolivia, India, Nepal, and Paraguay, thanks to our amazing partners and support from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). Each stop transformed local spaces into hubs of reflection, discovery, and dialogue on the role of tech in society. Find out how to host this exhibition

TACTICAL TECH: TRAINING AND ADVANCING THE SKILLS OF COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE 🧠

Tactical Tech's team led conversations, hosted workshops and sessions, and participated in various events to advance knowledge and build the capacities of individuals and communities to address technology-related challenges. Here’s a recap of last month’s events:
➡️ On May 28, Tactical Tech hosted an in-person workshop in Publix Berlin in collaboration with Wikirate, diving into how to investigate corporate supply chains with Open Data. Participants explored how to uncover corporate accountability using open data and real-world investigative techniques.
➡️ On May 30, Tactical Tech’s communications manager, Ana Maria Salinas, participated in the panel “Ahead of the AI Misinformation Curve tackled visual AI-powered misinformation” along with experts from Full Fact, and the National Literacy Trust and discussed visual AI-literacy strategies to spot AI-generated images, understand how they’re made, and use them responsibly. More info
➡️ On June 11 and 14, Tactical Tech led a one-day digital literacy training for educators in Prague. The focus is on helping teens critically engage with AI and digital life, while exploring how technology impacts their communities and the planet.
➡️ On June 14, Tactical Tech’s Amber Macintyre joined the Disruption Network Lab panel on far-right campaigning and AI. Her talk unpacked how institutional practices shape political language and imagery in Europe. Watch recording session here
➡️ On June 29, we brought our Digital Detox Bar to life at Publix Open House! We shared privacy tips, AI insights, and connected with dozens of curious guests ready to detox their digital habits. Interested in hosting your own Data Detox Bar? Contact us at partnership@tacticaltech.org
➡️ On July 1, we hosted a screening of Taak, a powerful short film by Berlinale Talents alumnus Udit Khurana, exploring surveillance and gender in India. With producer Mathivanan Rajendran in the room, we discussed patriarchal tech, privacy, and autonomy over popcorn and snacks. Want to organise a screening? Contact mathivanan@thestoriculturecompany.com
➡️ Between July 1 and 4 July, our partner, the University of Queensland, Australia, hosted The 2025 ADM+S Symposium: Automated Social Services unites ADM+S where researchers, technologists, social service professionals, and policymakers came together to showcase innovative responses to the challenges of building inclusive, ethical, and responsible automated social services. Tactical Tech’s Data DEtox Bar was hosted as part of the event. Learn more

MEET OUR PARTNERS WORLDWIDE 💫

Building Together: Inspiring interventions from around the world

How can we foster partnerships that promote media literacy globally and empower communities to reframe their relationship with technology? Our latest article, "Building Together", explores how Tactical Tech collaborates with changemakers across the globe — from Brazil to Nepal, Kenya to Mexico — to promote media and digital literacy through creative, community-driven initiatives. Read more here.
➡️ Supercharged by AI at AGLIS 2025 Conference. June 11 - 13, 2025. Kalabaka, Greece. This year’s theme, “Democracy of Knowledge and the Threats of Misinformation,” explores the vital role of libraries and information centers in ensuring access to accurate information amid the growing spread of misinformation. It examines how trust in libraries can help counter false narratives—especially in the age of social media. Our exhibition Supercharged by AI, translated into Greek by AGLIS, will be on display at Kalabaka Library during the conference. Find out more

WHAT WE ARE READING 🔍

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