- Documenting During Internet Shutdowns With contributions by Arul Prakkash Last reviewed: 31 January 2020 In June 2019, as human rights abuses and a humanitarian crisis were continuing in Myanmar, the country’s Ministry of Transport and Communication directed telecom companies to shut down their mobile internet service in parts of Rakhine State and neighboring Chin State. Citing “disturbances of the […]
- Setting Up a Phone for Offline Documentation This post is part of a series on Documenting During Internet Shutdowns. With contributions by Arul Prakkash Last reviewed: 31 January 2020 Embed from Getty Images Despite an internet shutdown, documenters can still capture important video evidence that can be shared offline or when they are able to get back online. Here are some tips […]
- Should I Use This Documentation App? This post is part of a series on Documenting During Internet Shutdowns. Look out for our comparison chart of various documentation apps, coming soon! With contributions by Arul Prakkash Last reviewed: 31 January 2020 There are many apps that documenters can use to capture video, ranging from your phone’s native camera app, to more specialized […]
- Maintaining Verifiable Media During an Internet Shutdown This post is part of a series on Documenting During Internet Shutdowns. With contributions by Arul Prakkash Last reviewed: 31 January 2020 Human rights defenders, investigators, researchers, and journalists often rely on first-hand documentation filmed by witnesses to monitor, report, and address human rights violations. To ensure that they are acting on correct information, these […]
- Backing Up Phone Media Without Internet or a Computer This post is part of a series on Documenting During Internet Shutdowns. With contributions by Arul Prakkash Last reviewed: 31 January 2020 Backup is key to ensuring your data and documentation are not accidentally deleted, corrupted, or lost if your device is confiscated. During an internet shutdown or slowdown, you might not be able to […]
- File Sharing and Communication During an Internet Shutdown This post is part of a series on Documenting During Internet Shutdowns. With contributions by Arul Prakkash Last reviewed: 31 January 2020 Embed from Getty Images The ongoing internet shutdown and crackdown in Kashmir, the longest internet shutdown ever imposed in a democracy, has had a catastrophic impact on the lives of people in the […]
- Human rights defenders are not terrorists, and their content is not propaganda Counter-terrorism is not a field that is known for its respect of human rights. The word terrorism, though it does not have any commonly agreed upon legal or societal definition, has often led to the implementation of repressive measures, not only in authoritarian regimes, but also in countries recognized as democracies. The United Nations Office […]
- In Africa, Fear of State Violence Informs Deepfake Threat Our deepfakes preparedness workshop in South Africa revealed that perceived threats from synthetic media vary greatly by region, especially where repressive government is a factor.
- What image keeps you fighting for human rights? As we look to the dawn of a new decade in 2020 and the “Best [insert noun] of the 2010s” listicles start cluttering our news feeds, let’s take a collective breath together. On December 10th, join us and share what image keeps YOU fighting for human rights. And let's inspire millions together!
- The Right to Record in Africa – Law versus Reality The Nigerian police force has a popular phrase which you will find displayed in most police stations. It says: The Police is your friend. But the average Nigerian does not know this to be true. The high levels of police violence coupled with the absence of accountability has sparked social movements such as #EndSARS and […]
- Cyber-Violence against the Marginalised in Sri Lanka Digital community spaces serve as important tools for Sri Lankan women and the LBT community. A recent research study conducted by Groundviews reveal that deep-rooted misogynistic attitudes driven by hate and fear drive cyber-violence against the marginalised.
- How to Burn Subtitles into Your YouTube Videos What Does “Burning In” Subtitles Mean? There are basically two ways to display subtitles in your videos. One method is to use a separate text file (e.g. a SRT file) that “plays” along with your video. This “soft subtitle” method is what allows users to turn subtitles on/off, or choose from multiple subtitles for the […]
- Juan’s Story Part 2: Using Video as Evidence in Immigration Proceedings This post is part of the WITNESS US Program and Media Lab’s series,“Eyes On ICE: Documenting Abuses Against Immigrant Communities.” The following is a case study for the consideration of immigration attorneys, advocates, and community members nationwide thinking through the creative use of video in defending individuals against deportation. The case at hand was filed […]
- How You Can Help the Humanitarian Crisis at the US-Mexico Border… and Beyond When images of Oscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his daughter, Valeria were published recently, we were outraged. We were heartbroken. The situation at the US-Mexico border is a crisis: a humanitarian crisis. Because of the government’s stronghold on the narrative — coupled with a militarized lack of transparency — without stories and images from brave whistleblowers, activists and community […]
- World Refugee Day 2019 June 20th marks World Refugee Day. But the work of protecting the rights of refugees happens every day of the year. At WITNESS, we help refugees document their stories—specifically human rights violations, through creating and archiving important media that can be used to bring awareness to their experiences and help advocate for change. Here are […]
