Who Am I
My Background
Senior Researcher at the Citizen Lab, University of Toronto, leading Disinformation research. 15+ years of prior experience on investigating digital threats in the private sector (Meta, PayPal, Uber).
My Expertise
I use OSINT to discover, analyze, and attribute online influence operations, with a special focus on protecting civil society.
I train organizations, investigative reporters, analysts on how to do the same.
Published Work
My first non-fiction book "Il Legionario" was published on the Italian market in October 2024. A historical investigation on a shady and pivotal figure in Cold War Italy, it shows how OSINT techniques can be used to investigate events that occurred decades ago.
Press & Media
I have conducted several webinars on my disinformation research, such as for example this one about my PAPERWALL report.
I was interviewed and/or quoted in The Atlantic, Reuters, Corriere della Sera, and many other international news outlets.
My Portfolio
PAPERWALL
Chinese Websites Posing as Local News Outlets Target Global Audiences with Pro-Beijing Content
February 7, 2024
Citizen Lab
HKLEAKS
The Use of Covert and Overt Online Harassment Tactics to Repress 2019 Hong Kong Protests
July 13, 2023
Citizen Lab
ENDLESS MAYFLY
An Iran-aligned network of inauthentic websites and online personas used to spread false and divisive information primarily targeting Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Israel.
May 14, 2019
Citizen Lab
THE STRANGE TALE OF THE GEORGIANS IN CONGO
How the capture of a trainer pilot exposed the presence of Georgian military contractors in DRC.
June 26, 2017
Bellingcat
GHOST IN THE MACHINE
From Chad, A Case Study On Why You Shouldn’t Blindly Trust Tech
July 17, 2020
Bellingcat