Tear Gas: An Investigation

Experts at Amnesty International’s Crisis Evidence Lab and our Investigations Lab students undertook an extensive investigation of the mechanisms and health effects of tear gas, and mapped verified incidents of tear gas misuse globally. This report was compiled due to the lack of international regulations of the manufacture, export, trade, or use of tear gas.

Amnesty staff and students involved with Amnesty’s Digital Verification Corps students verified close to 500 videos and highlighted nearly 80 events in 22 countries and territories where tear gas was misused, confirming the location, date, and validity of the evidence. These videos were categorized into five types of misuse, including (1) against peaceful demonstrations, (2) against vulnerable individuals, (3) in confined spaces, (4) in excessive quantities, and (5) direct fire at individuals. These were selected based, in part, on the UN’s Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement. In January 2021, an additional 27 new incidents from 13 countries were noted.

The Lab conducted specific open source investigations identifying video and photo evidence of serious misuse of tear gas in Venezuela, Hungary, and the Democratic Republic of Congo against protesters by security forces. Students procured images of equipment that helped identify tear gas manufacturers and countries of origin.