Davos 2019 - Searching for Truth

TL;DR

Open source material, such as social media posts and satellite imagery, is being used to reconstruct human rights crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.

Transcript

good afternoon everybody my name is Ken Roth I'm the director of Human Rights Watch and today we are going to look at really the anatomy of a modern human rights investigation traditionally though in order to understand what happened when you have a human rights crime of some sort you needed to send somebody there and that's often difficult you kno... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤗 Open source material allows for the reconstruction of human rights crimes without physical presence on the ground.
• 🤗 A combination of human analysis and machine learning is used to collect, verify, and synchronize open source material.
• 🖐️ Architectural analysis plays a significant role in investigating violations and crimes in urban areas.
• 🤗 Collaboration between various experts and institutions is essential for effective open source investigations.
• 🤗 Verification is a crucial and time-consuming process in open source investigations.
• 🤗 Open source evidence can be used in courts but requires reliability and credibility to convince judges.
• 😒 The use of satellite imagery and acoustic engineering aids in verification and reconstruction.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does open source investigation work?

Open source investigators collect and verify material from social media websites and other online sources. This process involves manual analysis as well as the use of machine learning algorithms to accelerate the work.

Q: Can open source evidence be used in courts?

Yes, open source material can be presented as evidence in courts. However, it is often a battle to convince courts of its reliability due to the conservative nature of the judicial system.

Q: How do you ensure the authenticity of open source material?

Authentication is carried out by examining the images closely for signs of manipulation. Additionally, the material is cross-checked with other sources to establish its authenticity and reliability.

Q: What are the challenges in using open source material for investigations?

Challenges include the overabundance of evidence, the need to combat disinformation and false material, and the constant evolution of technology that requires adapting investigative methods.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Open source material allows for the reconstruction of human rights crimes when traditional methods of investigation are limited.

• Techniques such as verifying and synchronizing images, analyzing bomb clouds, and using physical clocks within images are used to create a narrative.

• Architectural analysis is also employed to investigate violations and crimes happening in urban areas.