Emerging use of modern technologies for human rights protection

Recent information technology advances, including the exploration of outer space and artificial intelligence, are not only broadening horizons in the technology sector but are also presenting challenges in other areas. International human rights and humanitarian law may benefit from science and technology outcomes, but in most cases the role of information technology remains unexplored. In this paper we focus on the potential uses of information technologies in human rights protection, with particular emphasis on potential applications in the field of international humanitarian law, where its use may lead to the exposure of human rights violations and contribute to the elimination of gross violations and interference with human dignity and fundamental rights. Evidence of human rights violations collected via the use of information technologies may help to convince the international authorities to take measures to ensure human rights protection. The authors also discuss whether international law is capable of response to new technological advances, by answering the following research question: Can international humanitarian law be applied in situations where an information technology used primarily for another purpose provides evidence of interference with, or the persistent violation of human rights? Through an analysis of the provisions of international humanitarian law, we aim to demonstrate that the protection of human rights is a fundamental pillar of international humanitarian law that must be observed in all sectors and that information technology not only can but must be used to ensure the effective protection of human rights in the international environment.