From Iran surveillance to LA fires — TSN fights
Eyes of Iran: Russian facial-recognition technology used in Iran
The Signals Network is proud to support the investigative project Eyes of Iran which reveals the secret Russian facial-recognition technology Teheran uses to monitor the Iranian people.
Coordinated by Forbidden Stories, our media partners Le Monde, paper trail media, DER SPIEGEL, DER STANDARD, Tamedia and ZDF describe the Iranian regime’s widespread use of a Russian facial recognition software called Findface.
Leaked documents from Russian and Iranian companies as well as source code reveal that Iranian authorities are using Russian facial recognition software called Findface (NtechLab).
TSN worked closely with Kandoo, a nonprofit organization working on cybersecurity for vulnerable populations and led by Nima Fatemi, on this project.
Our work depends on the courage of sources. With your support, we can continue to protect them, help investigate the stories that matter and share the truths the world needs to see.
Read more on our blog post.
LA fires: whistleblower complaint on emergency response
TSN is proud to support whistleblower Nick Vaquero, an associate director in the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, who raised serious concerns about the agency’s response to the January 2025 L.A. fires.
After repeatedly raising concerns internally, Vaquero filed a whistleblower complaint in October 2025. His complaint included allegations that a colleague with a “history of sleeping on the job” was asleep during an overnight shift and he highlighted issues affecting the agency’s ability to respond effectively. “We could easily be Altadena next,” he told LAist.
Whistleblowers like Nick are essential in protecting communities and holding powerful actors accountable, often at personal risk.
TSN speaks at International Journalism Festival
TSN will participate in the International Journalism Festival (IJF) in Perugia with two panels highlighting critical issues for whistleblowers and sensitive sources:
- How to work safely with sensitive sources, April 16, 2026.
- Adapting under pressure: how whistleblowing platforms respond to evolving threats and regulations, April 17, 2026.
Join us as we share insights from the front lines and explore the evolving challenges in protecting those who speak out.
Supporting Whistleblowers: Ellsberg Award 2026
The 2026 Ellsberg Award honors Andrés Olarte Peña for exposing serious environmental and human rights abuses at Ecopetrol, Colombia’s largest state-owned oil company. His disclosures helped bring critical issues to light and strengthen accountability.
Our Executive Director, Delphine Halgand-Mishra, participated in the Ellsberg Award Exchange on March 12, 2026, joining other leaders and honorees to discuss whistleblowing, journalism and support structures.
Learn more about the 2026 Ellsberg Award.
Whistleblower News Roundup
— Meta and TikTok let harmful content rise after evidence outrage drove engagement, say whistleblowers — BBC, by Marianna Spring and Mike Radford.
— Whistleblower claims ex-DOGE member says he took Social Security data to new job — The Washington Post, by Meryl Kornfield, Elizabeth Dwoskin and Lisa Rein.
— Whistleblower complaint. Document alleges county employee slept during fire — LAist, by Erin Stone.
— Manitoba looks to strengthen whistleblower protections — Winnipeg Free Press, by Gabrielle Piché.
— Chinese whistleblower reveals how China spies on citizens at home – and in the US — CNN, by Rebecca Wright and Ivan Watson.
— Whistleblower warns ICE has slashed training for recruits — PBS News, by Geoff Bennett and Jonah Anderson.
Discover more whistleblowing stories making headlines here.
P.S. … Do you have a friend or colleague who is interested in holding power to account?
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