Tips for investigating political figures

23 September 2024 3 minutes Author: Cyber Witcher

Learn how to effectively investigate Politically Sensitive Persons (PSPs) using modern OSINT tools. Practical tips and detailed techniques for anyone interested in security and analytics.

How to research politically significant individuals

The investigation of politically significant persons (PEPs) and international corruption requires a detailed and thoughtful approach, the use of specialized databases and investigative tools. It is important to pay attention not only to the main person, but also to his relatives. Often the connections found may be indirect, through associates, relatives or business associates.

Key steps in PEP and corruption research

1. Identify close partners

  • Focus on people close to the main person of interest, such as family members, close friends, business associates, and key associates. These connections often reveal indirect links to corruption or hidden assets.

2. Use specialized databases

  • OCCRP’s Aleph (aleph.occrp.org)

  • ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database (offshoreleaks.icij.org)

  • OpenSanctions (opensanctions.org)

  • World Bank StAR Asset Recovery Watch Database (star.worldbank.org/asset-recovery-watch-database)

  • LittleSis (littlesis.org)

3. Analyze financial transactions and assets

  • Look for unusual financial transactions, property records and other assets that are often hidden under the names of partners or family members.

4. Use public records and news articles

  • Combine information from public archives with news articles, especially those from smaller or foreign news sources, to obtain valuable local and international information.

5. Use exploratory workspaces

  • Platforms such as Datashare ICIJ (datashare.icij.org), Aleph, and Google Pinpoint (journaliststudio.google.com) enable efficient organization and analysis of large volumes of documents. These workspaces can cross-reference data points in different files, revealing hidden relationships.

Identifying connections between different people and organizations

1. Cross references

  • Use databases to cross-reference names and entities, revealing hidden connections and networks.

2. Explore indirect connections

  • Focus on indirect connections, as connections are often not directly related to the main person, but to someone close to them.

3. Compile and analyze social media

  • Social media connections can provide insight into personal and professional relationships.

4. Review corporate documents

  • Corporate registrations and other official documents may reveal links between legal entities and individuals. Combining them with news articles and social media data helps bridge the gap between the professional and social spheres.

5. Use automatic text recognition

  • Platforms such as Aleph and Google Pinpoint can automatically recognize text and extract data from uploaded documents, making it easier to identify relevant names and places in large amounts of data.

By following these methods and using the right tools, journalists and researchers can untangle complex webs and delve deeper into their subjects, increasing the effectiveness and relevance of their investigations.

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