Seeing Human Rights at Sea: How to Align Tech Development with the Needs of Maritime Human Rights Investigators and Affected Communities

Significant effort has been devoted to developing tech tools that leverage data to assist human rights investigations at sea. It is unclear, however, how users incorporate data and data-related tools into their investigations, nor what is needed for tech developments to contribute more value. We present the preliminary findings of a study which used workshops and interviews to examine the practices, experiences, and views of experts who perform maritime human rights investigations. Following a thematic analysis, we find that while there is scope for developers and designers to become involved, technologists' enthusiasm for cutting-edge solutions appears detached from the context and experience of affected communities. The result is a saturated but opaque market for under-used tech solutions, while communities' low-tech needs remain unmet. We suggest developers can best contribute to the fight against human rights abuses at sea by adopting deeper forms of engagement that promote communities' agency.