Technology advances strengthen global atrocity prevention efforts

The rapid evolution of digital technologies, encompassing social media, Artificial Intelligence (AI), geospatial tools, and surveillance systems, is fundamentally reshaping human interaction and profoundly affecting global efforts to prevent mass atrocity crimes. 

While these tools carry a powerful potential for prevention, they also introduce significant new risks.

Digital platforms have been widely exploited to spread disinformation, foster information silos, and incite violence, often targeting vulnerable ethnic or religious communities. 

Furthermore, states have leveraged surveillance and facial recognition technologies to monitor populations, silence civil society, and target human rights defenders and political opponents.

Notably, these same technologies hold immense promise for atrocity prevention. They are vital for documenting early warning signs, facilitating inclusive dialogue, strengthening real-time human rights monitoring, and amplifying urgent calls for action. 

Despite increasing global attention from the UN and various stakeholders, multilateral institutions, governments, and private companies still face substantial challenges in effectively navigating both the threats and opportunities posed by the digital landscape.

The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect is actively working to bridge this gap. 

The organisation is integrating digital technology analysis into country-specific monitoring and advocacy efforts and promoting a holistic approach to global digital governance. 

They advocate for decision-makers to adopt an "atrocity prevention lens" when formulating and implementing technology-related norms and policies, ensuring that digital tools are leveraged for justice and accountability rather than exploited for harm.