Almaty, Kazakhstan – On September 5th and 6th, 2024, a diverse group of best graduates of fact-checking online course in April-May, 2024, from across Kazakhstan gathered in Almaty for FactCheck Dive OSINT Workshop on advanced Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) tools. 

The training featured expert guidance from distinguished editors and authors of Factcheck.kz, along with leading professionals from internationally renowned investigative organizations Bellingcat and OCCRP. 

Over two days, participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering the latest fact-checking and verification techniques. The trainers provided in-depth training on how to effectively gather and verify information using OSINT tools. The sessions included real-world case studies and practical exercises designed to help participants apply these tools in their daily work, ensuring the fight against misinformation continues across Kazakhstan.

The workshop participants hailed from various regions of Kazakhstan and represented a wide array of professions, from journalism and police to activism and public service. This diversity fostered rich discussions and collaborations, as attendees learned how to apply OSINT tools to different areas of media, information management, and civic engagement.

As part of the workshop, each participant was tasked with producing at least two materials based on the techniques they learned. The best of these submissions will be featured on prominent fact-checking platforms, giving participants the opportunity to have their work published and contribute directly to the global fact-checking community.

The FactCheck Dive OSINT Workshop, held over two engaging days in Almaty, marks a critical step in empowering Kazakhstan’s media and civil society to more effectively counter misinformation and disinformation, while fostering a strong community of fact-checkers across the country.

The Empowering Media and Information Literacy and  Fact-Checking Capability project is implemented by MediaNet International Centre for Journalism Public Foundation with support from the Nippon Foundation.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact: Alyona Koshkina, alyona@medianet.ngo