About the Digital Sherlocks
Digital Sherlocks is a free, annual, live online training program for members of civil society, journalists, researchers and analysts who are committed to monitoring and protecting the information environment in their respective regions.
Format
The Digital Sherlocks program runs online annually. The program spans three months, with two to three sessions per week delivered live. Participants can register for as many sessions as they would like based on interests and schedules. Given the global nature of each cohort, we schedule sessions to accommodate as many time zones as possible.
All sessions are delivered in English. Applicants are expected to have a sufficient level of English proficiency to actively follow live training sessions and engage with written communications and materials.
topics
The program offers over twenty specialized modules covering the “how” and “why” of open-source investigations. Sessions are primarily led by the DFRLab’s global team of experts. Early sessions introduce foundational concepts and frameworks focused on cultivating the investigative mindset and understanding online influence operations. The program progresses to more advanced topics on open-source investigative techniques, tools, and methodologies.
For the first time, the DFRLab is partnering with the University of Pennsylvania’s (Penn) Center on Media, Technology and Democracy to deliver Penn-led sessions for Sherlocks as part of the 2026 cohort.
After the cohort ends, participants can request certificates of completion. To be eligible for a certificate, participants must meet minimum attendance criteria. Full details will be provided to accepted participants.
Apply to the Digital Sherlocks 2026 Cohort by Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 23:59 Eastern Time.
*If you are not a member of an eligible community (civil society, academia, journalist, student, not-for-profit researcher or analyst), and you are interested in receiving training, please contact us at dfrlabcapacity@atlanticcouncil.org.
History and impact of the digital sherlocks program
The DFRLab’s Digital Sherlocks program began in 2019 as an in-person training initiative with the aim of empowering individuals to build a resilient information ecosystem in their own communities and around the world. In October 2020, the DFRLab seamlessly transitioned the Digital Sherlocks into an online program, scaling to reach up to 1,000 participants annually, as an ongoing series of free, online trainings dedicated to students, members of civil society, journalists, and academics committed to monitoring and protecting the information environment in their respective regions.
Across eight online cohorts, Digital Sherlocks has upskilled over 4,000 participants from around the world with practical training on open-source investigative methodologies, interactive expert discussions on digital governance and tech policy, and networking opportunities.
Beyond technical training, Digital Sherlocks participants gain access to a global community of practitioners, with private discussion forums and resource libraries. The cohort model creates powerful knowledge-sharing networks that persist long after formal training ends. It is these individuals, #DigitalSherlocks, who are at the heart of our movement.
For many participants, especially those in authoritarian contexts or conflict zones, Digital Sherlocks provides a crucial lifeline. We connect isolated researchers to a supportive global community and provides skills, feedback, and affirmation for their important work.
Even as the program ends, your time as a Sherlock does not. Graduates have gone on to contribute to premier media outlets, international organizations, civil society groups, and academic institutions. Six former participants have joined the DFRLab’s team, including manager of the Digital Sherlocks program, directly applying their learnings to contribute to strengthening information integrity.
Organizations and institutions interested in helping build global capacity to counter disinformation by making free OSINT training accessible to civil society groups, journalists, and students can contact dfrlabcapacity@atlanticcouncil.org.
Digital Sherlock Resources
Training schedules, session registration, and available resources will be available below accepted applicants of the 2026 cohort.
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