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Theia vessel tracking map flagging AIS spoofing, with a tanker broadcasting a falsified position pattern

Maritime Capability

AIS Spoofing Detection

Identify vessels broadcasting false positions, manipulating identity, or sharing MMSI numbers, by comparing what AIS says with what satellites see.

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The Problem

When vessels lie about who and where they are.

AIS spoofing is the deliberate manipulation of a vessel’s AIS data to misrepresent its identity, position, or behavior. Unlike going dark, spoofing lets a vessel stay “visible” while broadcasting false information.

It takes several forms: position spoofing, identity manipulation, MMSI sharing, and GPS/GNSS interference. Spoofing has surged with sanctions evasion, smuggling, and geopolitical conflict. Platforms that rely on AIS as their primary source are fundamentally compromised by it; Theia verifies AIS against independent satellite observation.

AIS-reported position versus true satellite-verified location of a spoofing vessel

How Theia Detects

We compare what AIS says with what satellites see.

01 / Verify

Satellite-Verified Position

Theia compares AIS-reported positions against satellite-observed positions. When the two diverge, the discrepancy is flagged as a potential spoof.

02 / Profile

Historical Pattern Analysis

Theia builds behavioral profiles over time. When reported behavior deviates from the established pattern with no physical change in imagery, the anomaly is investigated.

03 / Match

MMSI Sharing Detection

Theia identifies cases where multiple vessels broadcast the same MMSI simultaneously by correlating satellite detections with AIS signals across locations.

04 / Cross-Reference

Multi-Source Cross-Referencing

AIS is cross-referenced with SAR detections, optical imagery, port records, and ownership databases to validate or invalidate reported information.

By the Numbers

Spoofing, quantified.

65,839

Spoofing ships detected

2,493

MMSI sharers tracked

Continuous

Monitoring for position discrepancies across all ingested AIS

Use Cases

Where spoofing detection matters.

Sanctions Compliance

Identify vessels using spoofing to evade sanctions screening. Provide verified position data for compliance documentation.

Insurance Underwriting

Assess risk for vessels with spoofing history. Identify previously undetected spoofing events that affect policy decisions.

Government Surveillance

Detect spoofing activity in strategic waterways, chokepoints, and territorial waters.

Port Security

Verify the true identity and position of vessels approaching or anchored in port.

Related Capabilities

Spoofing travels with other deception.

Dark Fleet

Dark Vessel Detection

When vessels disable AIS entirely instead of spoofing it.

Covert Transfer

Ship-to-Ship Transfer Detection

Spoofing vessels often engage in covert cargo transfers.

Identity

Vessel Attribution

Identifying the true identity of spoofing vessels.

Spoofing is one tactic in a deception toolkit Theia tracks end to end.

Get Started

Detect spoofing before it costs you.

Request a demonstration and see how Theia verifies what AIS alone cannot.

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