Berlin, Germany · Open to 2026 collaborations

Mapping the actors behind digital threats. Protecting who they target.

Investigative journalist and OSINT researcher. For two decades tracing influence operations, troll networks, and online extremism. And training exposed journalists and human rights defenders in how to reduce risks.

Read full bio → Speaking & training Browse the tools
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Luis Assardo, investigative journalist and OSINT researcher, photographed in Berlin
● Node 00 / verified
Cited & trusted by
The New York TimesThe IntercepttazCommittee to Protect JournalistsReporters Without BordersGIJNIJNetDeutsche WelleTactical Tech

Protection is a practice, not a product. I came to digital security through twenty years of public safety and emergency management. The same discipline, anticipate the threat, reduce the exposure, rehearse the response, now goes into defending reporters and the sources who trust them.

Based in
Berlin, Germany since 2021
Focus
Journalism, OSINT, Digital Security
Languages
Spanish · English · German

Areas of work

Three connected practices, from the investigation itself to the safety of the people doing it.

A. Investigations & analysis

Disinformation & influence ops OSINT & digital investigations Online extremism & hate speech Troll-network research Social media manipulation

B. Protection & security

Journalist protection Hostile-environment risk assessment OPSEC & deanonymisation auditing Emergency & crisis response Protection protocol design

C. Media & leadership

Media freedom & expression Newsroom innovation Training & capacity building University teaching

Selected work

Live tools & investigations
ToolPublicJournalism

GovScan V1.0 ↗

A tool to scan and audit government websites for security vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and risk exposure. Used in the Guatemalan hacking crisis published in Vector Crítico.

↗ Visit
WebsitePublicJournalism

Cybercrisis website ↗

A month long coverage over the Guatemalan Cybersecurity crisis in government websites. A standalone website with a dashboard, reports and literacy guides to understand the crisis.

↗ Visit
Web appPublicJournalism

Meta Monetization Tool ↗

A public dashboard to explore and analyse data from Meta's monetization archives. Makes platform accountability accessible to anyone without technical skills.

↗ Visit ↗ Source
See all tools, including what is in development →

Recognition

Awards & fellowships · 2001–2025
2025

ESET Digital Security Journalism Award

Vector Crítico

Article: "Cuenta que atacó a periodistas es parte de una red de medios falsos"

award
2024

Digital Investigations Residency

Tactical Tech, Germany 🇩🇪

fellowship
2021

Digital Security Fellowship

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Germany 🇩🇪

fellowship
2020

Producing Media to Counter Radicalisation

RNTC, Netherlands 🇳🇱

fellowship
2019

Journalist of the Month

IJNet / ICFJ

award
2018

ESET Digital Security Journalism Award

First investigation on Influence Operations in Guatemala

award
2015

Digital Path to Entrepreneurship Fellowship

Several newsrooms, USA 🇺🇸

fellowship
2010

Multimedia Journalism Fellowship

Deutsche Welle Akademie, Germany 🇩🇪

fellowship
2001

Fire & Disaster Management Fellowship

JICA / FDMA, Japan 🇯🇵

fellowship

Organisations & affiliations

Networks & bodies

Bring me in on the hard problems.

A talk for your conference, a security trainer for an exposed team, or a collaborator on an investigation that needs OSINT. Tell me what you are working on.

✉ Email meGeneral enquiries & collaborations → ◆ Book a talkConferences, panels & events → ⬡ Request trainingDigital security & OSINT workshops →