Verify any video in 5 minutes: the OSINT toolkit
Geolocation, reverse image search and sun-angle checks — the free tools professionals use.
When a dramatic video spreads, verification follows a fixed sequence: find the earliest version, geolocate it, and check the claimed time against shadows and weather.
Reverse image search on a frame often finds the original upload — frequently years old and from a different country. Geolocation matches buildings, mountain silhouettes and road layouts against satellite imagery. Sun-angle tools confirm or kill the claimed timestamp.
None of this requires special access. It requires knowing the tools and doing the steps in order.
Why it matters
Misattributed footage moves markets and mobs. A 5-minute check is the difference between sharing news and spreading propaganda.
What to watch next
Content-credentials standards (C2PA) being adopted by camera makers and platforms.