Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations
Publication Date
December 2, 2020
Publication Type
Protocol
Topic(s)
Conflict, Open Source Investigations, Technology
Summary
The Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations identifies international standards for conducting online research of alleged violations of international criminal, human rights, and humanitarian law. The Protocol provides guidance on methodologies and procedures for gathering, analysing, and preserving digital information in a professional, legal, and ethical manner. The publication also sets out measures that online investigators can and should take to protect the digital, physical, and psychosocial safety of themselves and others, including witnesses, victims, and first responders (such as citizens, activists, and journalists) who risk their own wellbeing to document war crimes and human rights violations so that those who are responsible are brought to justice. The Human Rights Center created the Berkeley Protocol in partnership with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Protocol is available in English, Arabic, French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian. More about the Berkeley Protocol can be found on this page.
Key Takeaways
- The Berkeley Protocol provides international standards and guidance for the use of digital open source information in investigating international crimes and human rights violations, emphasizing the need for consistent methods to ensure accuracy and reliability of findings.
- The Protocol is designed for various stakeholders, including legal professionals, human rights defenders, and journalists, to help them develop effective procedures for documenting and verifying international law violations using digital open source information.
- A key focus of the Protocol is on ethical principles, such as the protection of dignity, transparency, and inclusivity, as well as methodological standards like accuracy, data minimization, and security by design in conducting open source investigations.
- The Protocol also outlines the legal framework necessary for digital open source investigations, emphasizing compliance with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and international criminal law, while addressing privacy and data protection concerns.
Suggested Citation
Center, H., & Rights, U. (2020)
Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations.
Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley. https://humanrights.berkeley.edu/publications/berkeley-protocol-on-digital-open-source-investigations/
