"Poliszuk began experimenting with satellite-based investigations, leveraging machine learning models to automate parts of his work and scale up analysis to unprecedented levels."
"As illegal gold mining spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, Poliszuk recognized the need to document the growth of these mines across Venezuela's rainforests."
"Satellite imagery has long helped investigative journalists gather intelligence on conflict zones and track changes in remote landscapes, now enhanced by AI."
"Poliszuk is part of a cohort of South American investigative reporters using geospatial data to track illegal mining, logging, and cattle ranching across the Amazon."
Joseph Poliszuk fled Venezuela in 2018 after exposing corruption in President Nicolas Maduro's administration. He began using satellite imagery and machine learning to investigate illegal gold mining and other activities from exile. This approach allows him to analyze vast areas of rainforest efficiently. The use of geospatial data and AI has become a significant trend in environmental journalism, enabling reporters to track illegal activities like mining and logging across the Amazon, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read at Nieman Lab
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