New Tools for Old Traumas: Using 21st Century technologies to combat human rights atrocities

Steady increases in technological sophistication over the past 10 to 20 years have helped millions of people come a bit closer to realizing social and economic rights such as the rights to food, clothing, housing, and medical care. These technological advances are also having a major impact on the struggle for civil and political rights.

The rapid expansion of computing and Internet capacities, for example, has increased information flows, making them more sophisticated, faster, and cheaper than ever before. That in turn has allowed governments, activists, and citizens to gather unprecedented amounts of information about human rights violations and disseminate it widely—and instantly—around the globe. Cell phones with photo capabilities convey images of human rights violations at a moment’s notice. Internet social networking tools enable activists to connect with one another and with sympathetic audiences to build worldwide networks for change...