Digital Transitional Justice in Syria: How Can Technology Bear Witness to Crimes?

As violations persist in Syria, oral testimonies alone are no longer sufficient. Digital evidence has become a fundamental tool in the pursuit of transitional justice.

What Constitutes Digital Evidence?

• Videos and photos captured via smartphones
• GPS location data and communication records
• Social media content and digital footprints
• Electronic archives preserving materials from loss or manipulation

Its Critical Importance:

• Reveals crimes as they occur
• Documents events in inaccessible locations
• Supports building legal cases against perpetrators

Key Legal Challenges:

• Authenticity: Is content original or manipulated?
• Chain of Custody: Who filmed, stored, and submitted materials?
• Deepfake Technology: Risk of judicial deception via fabricated videos
• Admissibility: International courts require strict verification standards
• Witness Protection: Ensuring documenters’ safety from retaliation

The Path Forward:

• AI technology to process millions of evidence files
• Syrian-intern organizational cooperation for activist training in legally compliant documentation

Transitional justice in Syria will only be achieved when technology serves as a weapon for truth—not a tool of deception.