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FedWatch

Research Tools

Research Tools

Section titled “Research Tools”

A curated collection of tools useful for rapid response research and verification.

Search & Discovery

Section titled “Search & Discovery”
Section titled “General Search”
ToolPurposeLink
GoogleGeneral search, use operatorsgoogle.com
DuckDuckGoPrivacy-focused searchduckduckgo.com
BingAlternative results, good for imagesbing.com

Search Operators

Section titled “Search Operators”

Refine your searches:

"exact phrase"     - Search exact text
site:domain.com    - Search specific site
filetype:pdf       - Find specific file types
-exclude           - Remove results with term
before:2024-01-01  - Results before date
after:2023-01-01   - Results after date
Section titled “Specialized Search”
ToolPurposeLink
Carrot2Clustered search resultssearch.carrot2.org
ShodanInternet-connected devicesshodan.io

Image Analysis

Section titled “Image Analysis”
Section titled “Reverse Image Search”
ToolBest ForLink
Google ImagesGeneral reverse searchimages.google.com
TinEyeFinding image originstineye.com
Yandex ImagesOften finds what Google missesyandex.com/images

Image Metadata

Section titled “Image Metadata”
ToolPurposeLink
Jeffrey’s EXIF ViewerView image metadataexif.regex.info
FotoForensicsImage manipulation analysisfotoforensics.com
Section titled “How to Use Reverse Image Search”
  1. Save or screenshot the image
  2. Go to reverse image search tool
  3. Upload image or paste URL
  4. Review results for matches
  5. Check dates to find original source

Vehicle Research

Section titled “Vehicle Research”

License Plate Resources

Section titled “License Plate Resources”
ResourceCoverageNotes
State DMVVaries by stateLimited public access
FOIA RequestsGovernment vehiclesMay reveal fleet information

Vehicle Identification

Section titled “Vehicle Identification”
ToolPurposeLink
NHTSA VIN DecoderDecode vehicle info from VINnhtsa.gov/vin-decoder
CarFaxVehicle history (paid)carfax.com

Fleet Vehicle Research

Section titled “Fleet Vehicle Research”
  • Government vehicles often have specific plate formats
  • Look for exempt plates, “G” prefixes, or fleet numbers
  • Document vehicle makes, models, and distinguishing features

Location & Mapping

Section titled “Location & Mapping”

Mapping Tools

Section titled “Mapping Tools”
ToolPurposeLink
Google MapsStreet view, satellite imagerymaps.google.com
OpenStreetMapOpen-source mappingopenstreetmap.org
Google EarthHistorical satellite imageryearth.google.com

Geolocation Techniques

Section titled “Geolocation Techniques”
  1. Landmark identification - Match visible buildings, signs, terrain
  2. Shadow analysis - Determine time of day from shadows
  3. Vegetation - Seasonal clues from plant growth
  4. Street signs - Language, format reveals location
  5. Architecture - Building styles vary by region

Social Media Research

Section titled “Social Media Research”
Section titled “Platform-Specific Search”
PlatformSearch Method
FacebookUse search bar with filters, check public groups
Twitter/XAdvanced search: from:user, near:location
InstagramLocation tags, hashtags, tagged photos
LinkedInOrganization searches, employee listings

Social Media Tools

Section titled “Social Media Tools”
ToolPurposeLink
Social SearcherCross-platform social searchsocial-searcher.com
TweetDeckMonitor Twitter in real-timetweetdeck.twitter.com

Tips for Social Media Research

Section titled “Tips for Social Media Research”
  • Check tagged locations at known ICE facilities
  • Monitor relevant hashtags
  • Look for patterns in posting times/locations
  • Screenshot everything - posts can be deleted

Public Records

Section titled “Public Records”

Government Sources

Section titled “Government Sources”
TypeWhere to Look
Court RecordsPACER (federal), state court websites
Property RecordsCounty assessor websites
Business RecordsState Secretary of State
FOIA RequestsAgency-specific portals

Data Aggregators

Section titled “Data Aggregators”
ToolPurposeNotes
OpenCorporatesBusiness/corporate recordsopencorporates.com
ICIJ Offshore LeaksFinancial documentsoffshoreleaks.icij.org

Verification Tools

Section titled “Verification Tools”

Fact-Checking Resources

Section titled “Fact-Checking Resources”
ToolPurposeLink
SnopesDebunking misinformationsnopes.com
FactCheck.orgPolitical claimsfactcheck.org

Video Verification

Section titled “Video Verification”
ToolPurposeLink
InVIDVideo verification toolkitinvid-project.eu
YouTube DataViewerExtract video metadatacitizenevidence.amnestyusa.org

Comprehensive Toolkits

Section titled “Comprehensive Toolkits”

Bellingcat Online Investigation Toolkit

Section titled “Bellingcat Online Investigation Toolkit”

The gold standard for OSINT tools: Bellingcat Toolkit (Google Sheets)

Categories include:

  • Maps & satellite imagery
  • Image verification
  • Social media analysis
  • Translation tools
  • Data visualization

OSINT Framework

Section titled “OSINT Framework”

Comprehensive directory of OSINT tools: OSINT Framework

Browser Setup for Research

Section titled “Browser Setup for Research”
Section titled “Recommended Extensions”
ExtensionPurpose
uBlock OriginAd/tracker blocking
Privacy BadgerTracker blocking
HTTPS EverywhereForce encrypted connections
Wayback MachineAccess archived pages

Research Browser Tips

Section titled “Research Browser Tips”
  • Use a separate browser profile for research
  • Clear cookies regularly
  • Consider using Tor Browser for sensitive searches
  • Use VPN to mask your location

Quick Reference

Section titled “Quick Reference”

For vehicle verification:

  1. Photo → Reverse image search
  2. License plate → Document format/state
  3. Vehicle type → Compare to known ICE fleet

For sighting verification:

  1. Location → Map and verify address
  2. Time → Check shadows, lighting
  3. Activity → Cross-reference with known patterns

For documentation:

  1. Screenshot everything
  2. Note timestamps
  3. Archive webpages
  4. Verify from multiple sources