Tech and Human Rights
2023 Updates to SJAC’s Bayanat Database
In 2023, SJAC’s relational database Bayanat, underwent a series of transformative updates, improving security, efficiency, and user experience. This article looks at some of the most important changes to
Accountability for Russian crimes in Syria and Ukraine
Those who commit atrocity crimes – whether in Syria, Ukraine, or elsewhere – must be held accountable. But in the fog of war, it is difficult to know how to pursue justice.
Making Order out of Chaos – SJAC’s Open Source Methodology
Since 2012, SJAC has been working to document violations committed during the Syrian conflict. At the outset, it was largely an exercise in collecting information. But it was clear that
How Facebook Failed in Syria
In October 2020, in the wake of the decapitation of the French high school teacher Samuel Paty, a Syrian user took to Facebook to praise the brutal murder. After SJAC
Bayanat: SJAC’s New Open-Source Database
Social media data has the power to hold human rights violators accountable and to help victims’ families identify their loved ones. Likewise, the advent of the citizen-journalist has strengthened human
The Shadows of Surveillance: Government Documents Confirm Syrian Embassies Monitored Syrians Abroad
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SJAC's Database: How SJAC is Using Technology to Transform the Field of Human Rights Documentation
The Syrian conflict has been documented by civilians and eyewitnesses at an unprecedented scale. Perpetrators, victims, and eye-witnesses have captured millions of videos and images, many of which have been
U.S. Discourages Export of Surveillance Technology to Human Rights Abusers
The U.S. government has urged exporters not to share surveillance technology with human rights abusers. Draft Guidance [https://www.state.gov/draft-u-s-government-guidance-for-the-export-of-surveillance-technology/] was issued by the Department of State
Russia’s Twitter Campaign: Influencing Perceptions of the Syrian Conflict
In the era of “fake news,” it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish falsehoods from reality, a problem that modern technology has only exacerbated. The Syrian conflict has fallen victim