Seeing Human Rights at Sea: How to Align Tech Development with the Needs of Maritime Human Rights Investigators and Affected Communities
Jamie Hancock, Ruoyun Hui, Jatinder Pal Singh, Anjali Mazumder · 2024
Significant effort has been devoted to developing tech tools that leverage data to assist human rights investigations at sea. It is unclear, however, how users incorporate data and data-related tools into their investigations, nor what is needed for tech developments to contribute more value. We present the preliminary findings of a study which used workshops and interviews to examine the practices, experiences, and views of experts who perform maritime human rights investigations. Following a thematic analysis, we find that while there is scope for developers and designers to become involved, technologists’ enthusiasm for cutting-edge solutions appears detached from the context and experience of affected communities. The result is a saturated but opaque market for under-used tech solutions, while communities’ low-tech needs remain unmet. We suggest developers can best contribute to the fight against human rights abuses at sea by adopting deeper forms of engagement that promote communities’ agency.