The International Bar
Association (IBA), with support from LexisNexis Legal &
Professional, today launched the eyeWitness to Atrocities app – a new
tool for documenting and reporting human rights atrocities in a secure
and verifiable way so the information can be used as evidence in a court
of law.
With social media increasingly the forum for
communicating human rights, many online images have raised awareness of
atrocities around the world but typically lack the attribution or
information necessary to be used as evidence in a court of law. Now
anyone with an Android-enabled smart phone – including human right
defenders, journalists, and investigators – can download the eyeWitness
to Atrocities app and help hold accountable perpetrators of atrocity
crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, torture and war
crimes.
‘The eyeWitness to Atrocities app will be a
transformational tool in the fight for human rights, providing a
solution to the evidentiary challenges surrounding mobile phone
footage,’ said IBA Executive Director Mark Ellis. ‘Until now, it has
been extremely difficult to verify the authenticity of these images and
to protect the safety of those brave enough to record them. As an
advocate for the voiceless, the International Bar Association is
dedicated to empowering activists on the ground who are witnessing these
atrocities with the ability to bring criminals to justice.’
The
design of the app is based on extensive research on the rules of
evidence in international, regional and national courts and tribunals.
It includes several features to guarantee authenticity, facilitate
verification and protect confidentiality by allowing the user to decide
whether or not to be anonymous.
‘Putting information and
technology in the hands of citizens worldwide has a powerful role to
play in advancing the rule of law,’ said Ian McDougall, EVP and General
Counsel of LexisNexis Legal & Professional. ‘LexisNexis Legal &
Professional’s world class data hosting capabilities will provide the
eyeWitness programme with the same technology that we use to safeguard
sensitive and confidential material for our clients every day. It’s all
part of our company’s broader commitment to advancing the rule of law
around the world, as we believe every business has a role to play in
building a safer, more just global society.’
How the App Works
When
a user records an atrocity, the app automatically collects and embeds
into the video file GPS coordinates, date and time, device sensor data,
and surrounding objects such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networks. The user
has the option of adding any additional identifying information about
the image. This metadata will provide information integral to verifying
and contextualising the footage. The images and accompanying data are
encrypted and securely stored within the app. The app also embeds a
chain of custody record to verify that the footage has not been edited
or digitally manipulated. The user then submits this information
directly from the app to a database maintained by the eyeWitness
organisation.
Once the video is transmitted, it is stored in a
secure repository that functions as a virtual evidence locker
safeguarding the original, encrypted footage for future investigations
and legal proceedings. The submitted footage is only accessible by a
group of legal experts at eyeWitness who will analyse the footage and
identify the appropriate authorities, including international, regional
or national courts, to pursue relevant cases.
‘The IBA is proud
to be spearheading the project and allocating $1 million of IBA reserves
as part of its efforts to promote, protect and enforce human rights
under a just rule of law,' said David Rivkin, IBA President.
The
IBA is working in partnership with LexisNexis Legal & Professional, a
part of RELX Group, which is hosting the secure repository, database
and backup system to store and analyse data collected via the app. The
IBA is also partnering with human rights organisations to put the app in
the hands of those working in some of the world’s most severe conflict
zones.’
‘The eyeWitness app promises to revolutionise the
effectiveness of ground-level human rights reporting,’ said Deirdre
Collings, Executive Director of The SecDev Foundation, a Canadian
research organisation. ‘We also see the app’s usefulness for media
activists in conflict and authoritarian environments who undertake vital
but high-risk reporting. We’re proud to include eyeWitness in our
training programme for our partners in Syria and will be rolling it out
across our projects in the CIS region and Vietnam.’
The eyeWitness to Atrocities app is available as a free download for all Android smartphones.
