Power and Humility in Open Source Investigations
Publication Date
May 16, 2026
Publication Type
Journal Article
Topic(s)
Open Source Investigations
Summary
A digital revolution is underway in which individuals on their computers, some working independently or in ad hoc collectives, and others as part of established organizations, are gathering and verifying information from online spaces that they believe contain evidence of human rights violations or international crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide. Known commonly as digital investigators, citizen sleuths, or open source intelligence (OSI) researchers, this community of practice has expanded across major newspaper agencies (such as the New York Times, the BBC and the Washington Post), human rights organizations (such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others), and national and international court systems (including United Nations Commissions of Inquiry and Fact-Finding Missions, and the International Criminal Court). In this article, we draw from our legal and sociological training to explore the role of power and humility in this quickly-emerging field of practice. Fundamentally, power and humility intersect with conceptions of ethics and responsibility but have too often been an afterthought to the intrigue of methodological possibilities and investigative outcomes. From who has access to digital open source investigative training to how investigations are designed to who are considered experts, this article posits that a failure to interrogate power asymmetries and an unwillingness to approach such research with appropriate humility can undermine the integrity and legitimacy of these investigations.
Key Takeaways
- Open source investigations utilizing digital tools play an increasingly significant role in human rights research, accumulating data on international crimes such as war crimes and genocides. These investigations employ publicly accessible online resources and are practiced by a range of individuals from citizen sleuths to professional researchers.
- The practice of power and humility within open source intelligence (OSI) research is crucial. Researchers need to address power asymmetries and approach their work with humility and ethical responsibility to ensure the integrity and legitimacy of their investigations, especially given that biases or power imbalances can affect these outcomes.
- Power dynamics manifest at every stage of digital investigations, from who receives training, to who decides what cases to undertake, to the dissemination of information, impacting how and whose stories are told. This has implications for methodological choices and data analysis, stressing the necessity to disrupt prevailing power dynamics.
- Acknowledging and addressing power imbalances is vital to conducting responsible open source investigations. Meaningful diversity across research teams and fostering collaborative efforts are essential strategies to enhance inclusivity and balance power dynamics.
- Emotional impacts of conducting digital investigations must be acknowledged. Open discussions about the researchers’ emotional responses to difficult subjects are necessary to maintain their wellbeing and ensure responsible and objective investigations.
- Public interest technology (PIT) can play a role in countering biases and inequities. Practices rooted in social equity principles aim to make innovation in digital investigations more inclusive and sensitive to the contexts and communities affected by human rights abuses.
Suggested Citation
Koenig, A., Peake, J., & Falcón, S. (2026)
Power and Humility in Open Source Investigations.
Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley. https://humanrights.berkeley.edu/publications/power-and-humility-in-open-source-investigations/
