Reporting Results

Reporting Results

This skill standardises the structure and presentation of investigation findings. All reports follow the BLIND format and are stored using consistent naming and directory conventions.

BLIND Report Structure

BLIND is a structured briefing format adapted for AT Protocol investigations. It places the bottom line first, followed by key elements that support action.

• BL — Bottom Line
• I — Impact on the network
• N — Next steps to be taken
• D — Details to support the bottom line (evidence, timestamps, AT-URIs, queries)

Bottom Line

A single sentence stating what was found and what it means. This should be the most critical finding from the investigation — the thing someone needs to know immediately.

Examples:

• "A coordinated network of 47 accounts is amplifying election-related disinformation, with 80% coverage by existing rules but significant reach through quote posts."
• "A single compromised account is posting spam with a consistent pattern; no coordination detected."
• "Rule coverage for this behaviour type is 45%, leaving significant detection gaps."

Guidelines:

• Write in active voice, present tense
• Be specific about scale and scope
• Mention the most significant finding (harm, reach, or implication)
• Avoid hedging — use "is" not "appears to be" (evidence determines confidence)

Impact

Quantify the scale and reach of the finding on the network. This answers "how much does this matter?"

Include:

• Number of accounts involved
• Time range of activity
• Engagement metrics (total posts, likes, reposts, reach)
• Targets (which accounts, topics, or communities are affected?)
• Risk assessment: low / medium / high

Format:

• Use tables for structured numerical data
• Use bullets for contextual information
• Always include data collection dates and time ranges

Example:

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Accounts in network | 47 |
| Posts analysed | 1,243 |
| Total engagement (likes + reposts) | 24,561 |
| Data range | 2026-02-15 to 2026-03-19 |
| Estimated reach | 500K+ impressions |
| Risk level | High |

Next Steps

List actionable recommendations in priority order. These are the outcomes of the investigation.

Recommended Actions:

• Apply moderation labels (flag, mute, suspend)
• Update or create detection rules
• Escalate to external team
• Monitor specific accounts going forward
• Share findings with external partners

Format:

• Use checkboxes for tracking
• Include any approval requirements (e.g., "requires moderation review")
• Specify timelines if applicable

Example:

- [ ] Apply `coordinated_inauthentic_behaviour` label to 47 identified accounts
- [ ] Create new rule for detecting similar posting patterns (see Rule Recommendations section)
- [ ] Escalate to trust & safety team for potential platform-wide enforcement
- [ ] Continue monitoring for new linked accounts (trigger on similar behaviour patterns)

Details

The complete evidence section. This is where you show all supporting data, timelines, network graphs, and analysis.

Include:

• Account profile summaries (one per account or account cluster)
• Timeline of activity (formatted as markdown table or timeline)
• Network graph or coordination evidence (visual description or ASCII diagram)
• Content examples (most significant posts or patterns)
• Rule hit analysis (which rules triggered, which didn't)
• SQL queries used for data extraction (for reproducibility)
• Timestamps: investigation dates, data collection period, report authored date
• AT-URIs for cited content (verbatim references, not summaries)

Format Guidelines:

• Use tables for structured data (account lists, rule hit counts, engagement metrics)
• Use timelines for temporal patterns (ASCII or markdown)
• Use bullet lists for evidence summaries and findings
• Include SQL query blocks with syntax highlighting
• Include a timestamps block at the end of the Details section for traceability

Example table:

| Account | Type | Posts | Rule Hits | PDS Host | Created |
|---------|------|-------|-----------|----------|---------|
| @acc1 | Account | 342 | 18 | pds.example.com | 2025-11 |
| @acc2 | Account | 298 | 12 | pds.example.com | 2025-11 |

Timestamps block (always include at the end of Details):

- Investigation conducted: 2026-03-10 to 2026-03-19
- Data range analysed: 2026-02-15 to 2026-03-19
- Report authored: 2026-03-19
- Last updated: [if applicable]

Report Types

Select the report type based on investigation scope and findings. Each type emphasizes different aspects while maintaining the BLIND structure.

Memo

When to use: Single account or small issue (2-5 accounts) without evidence of coordination. Quick findings that don't require deep network analysis.

Scope: Limited investigation (usually stops after Phase 2 or Phase 3).

Emphasis: Account profile and immediate next steps. Minimal network analysis.

Key sections:

• Bottom Line (brief, high-level)
• Impact (account counts, reach, risk)
• Next Steps (enforcement or monitoring)
• Details (account profile, key evidence, timestamps)

Length: 1-3 pages

File naming: YYYY-MM-DD-memo-{account-name}.md

Cluster Deep-Dive

When to use: Comprehensive analysis of a coordinated network (5+ accounts). Complete investigation through all 6 phases for a single coordinated group.

Scope: Full investigation of a single coordinated cluster.

Emphasis: Coordination evidence, network topology, amplification strategy, and rule coverage.

Key sections:

• Bottom Line
• Impact (network size, reach, temporal scope)
• Next Steps (labelling, rule updates, ongoing monitoring)
• Details (full data tables, timelines, network graph)
  • Network Summary (account count, relationships, infrastructure)
  • Coordination Evidence (content matching, temporal correlation, shared infrastructure)
  • Amplification Map (primary targets, engagement metrics, spread patterns)
  • Rule Coverage Analysis (Phase 5 findings)
  • Timestamps

Length: 3-8 pages depending on network size

File naming: YYYY-MM-DD-cluster-{identifier}.md

Cross-Cluster

When to use: Comparison and analysis of multiple coordinated networks that appear related. Identifies shared tactics, infrastructure, or operators.

Scope: Analysis linking 2+ clusters together; may reference existing cluster deep-dive reports.

Emphasis: Cross-cluster patterns, shared infrastructure, coordinated operations, and comparative analysis.

Key sections:

• Bottom Line
• Impact (total accounts across clusters, aggregate reach, shared targets)
• Next Steps (coordination-level labelling, rule updates)
• Details (comparative tables, cross-cluster network graph, infrastructure map)
  • Cluster Comparison Matrix (accounts, infrastructure, tactics, timeline overlap)
  • Shared Infrastructure Evidence (domains, PDS hosts, ASN overlap)
  • Shared Tactics (common content, posting patterns, amplification strategies)
  • Hypothesised Relationships (likely operator, operational unit, or shared purpose)
  • Timestamps

Length: 4-10 pages depending on number of clusters

File naming: YYYY-MM-DD-cross-cluster-{description}.md

Rule Check

When to use: Assessment of rule coverage against known behaviour patterns. Focus on Phase 5 (Rule Validation) findings.

Scope: Analysis of rule coverage; may reference accounts or networks already documented.

Emphasis: Detection gaps, rule effectiveness, and recommended improvements.

Key sections:

• Bottom Line
• Impact (accounts caught vs. missed, coverage percentage, risk of missed detection)
• Next Steps (rule deployment, testing, monitoring)
• Details (rule hit tables, gap examples with SQL, query results)
  • Rule Coverage Summary (coverage by rule type, accounts caught, accounts missed)
  • Gap Analysis (behaviour patterns not caught, suggested new rules)
  • Rule Recommendations (new rules, rule modifications, threshold adjustments)
  • Timestamps

Length: 2-5 pages

File naming: YYYY-MM-DD-rule-check-{rule-type-or-case-name}.md

Data Presentation Conventions

Tables

Use markdown tables for structured data:

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Value | Value | Value |

When to use tables:

• Account lists with metadata
• Rule hit counts by account or rule
• Engagement metrics
• Infrastructure details (hosts, domains, ASNs)

Timelines

Use ASCII or markdown-formatted timelines for temporal patterns:

2026-02-15 [09:15] @account1: first post
2026-02-15 [09:22] @account2: similar post
2026-02-15 [09:45] @account3: amplifies content
2026-02-16 [06:30] Network goes dormant

When to use timelines:

• Account activity history
• Content distribution patterns
• Coordination timing patterns
• Campaign phases

Bullet Lists

Use bullet lists for evidence summaries and qualitative findings:

- Evidence 1: description and supporting detail
- Evidence 2: description and supporting detail
- Evidence 3: description and supporting detail

Internal References

Use Obsidian wiki-style links for all internal references within reports — other reports, accounts, skills, or investigation artefacts.

Format:

• Link to other reports: [[2026-03-19-cluster-coordinated-network-47]]
• Link to specific sections: [[2026-03-19-cluster-coordinated-network-47#Network Summary]]
• Link to accounts: [[accounts/did:plc:abc123]]
• Link to related skills: [[conducting-investigations]], [[querying-clickhouse]]

When to use:

• Referencing a prior investigation or related report
• Linking to accounts that have their own profiles or prior reports
• Cross-referencing sections within the same report
• Citing related skills or methodology

Do not use standard markdown links ([text](url)) for internal references. Reserve markdown links for external URLs only.

SQL Queries

Always include the queries used for data extraction in code blocks with ClickHouse syntax highlighting:

### Query: Account Rule Hit History

```sql
SELECT rule_name, count() as hits, min(timestamp) as first_hit, max(timestamp) as last_hit
FROM rule_hits
WHERE account = 'target_account'
GROUP BY rule_name
ORDER BY hits DESC
```

**Result:**
[table of results]

Output Conventions

File Naming

Use ISO 8601 date format with descriptive identifier:

YYYY-MM-DD-{type}-{identifier}.md

Examples:

• 2026-03-19-memo-spam-account.md
• 2026-03-19-cluster-coordinated-network-47.md
• 2026-03-19-cross-cluster-infrastructure-overlap.md
• 2026-03-19-rule-check-copypasta-detection.md

Metadata Block

Include investigation metadata at the top of every report (after BLIND title):

# Investigation Report: [Brief Title]

**Investigator:** [Name]
**Investigation Date:** [YYYY-MM-DD]
**Report Type:** [Memo / Cluster Deep-Dive / Cross-Cluster / Rule Check]
**Target(s):** [Accounts or networks analysed]
**Status:** [In Progress / Complete / Escalated]
**Conclusion:** [Brief summary]

Directory Structure

Store reports in a hierarchical structure for easy retrieval:

investigations/
├── YYYY-MM-DD-{case-name}/
│   ├── report.md                    # Main report
│   ├── accounts.csv                 # Account list (if applicable)
│   ├── rule-hits.csv                # Rule trigger data (if applicable)
│   ├── network-graph.txt            # Network topology or ASCII graph (if applicable)
│   └── queries/
│       ├── discovery.sql
│       ├── characterization.sql
│       ├── linkage.sql
│       ├── amplification.sql
│       └── rule-validation.sql

Integration with Related Skills

• [[conducting-investigations]] — For investigation methodology and Phase 1-5 guidance
• [[accessing-osprey]] — For moderation label operations (Phase 6 enforcement)
• [[querying-clickhouse]] — For SQL query construction and optimisation

Review Checklist

Use this checklist when reviewing investigation reports before publication:

Structure:

• Bottom Line is a single sentence and captures the key finding
• Impact section includes account counts, reach, and risk assessment
• Next Steps are specific and actionable
• Details include supporting data, SQL queries, and timestamps

Evidence:

• All major claims are supported by data
• Data sources are clearly documented
• SQL queries are included and reproducible
• Time ranges and data collection dates are specified

Accuracy:

• Account counts are verified
• Rule coverage percentages are calculated correctly
• Findings are consistent across all sections
• No contradictions between sections

Clarity:

• Report type is appropriate for scope and findings
• Language is clear and unambiguous
• Technical terms are defined or linked using [[wiki-style]] links
• Tables and timelines are properly formatted

Linking:

• All internal references use [[wiki-style]] links (not markdown links)
• Cross-references to other reports resolve correctly
• Related skills and accounts are linked

Completeness:

• All recommended next steps are addressed
• Escalation path is clear if needed
• Follow-up actions are documented