Information Overload: How Technology Can Help Convert Raw Data into Rich Information for Transitional Justice Processes

The increasing abundance of information regarding human rights and international humanitarian law violations presents a significant challenge for transitional justice processes. This information is valuable and actors need to adopt new technology to preserve, interpret and present it for future use. We consider the Sri Lanka Conflict Mapping and Archive Project and suggest future options for implementing technology in preparatory work for transitional justice processes. Technology can increase the efficiency of acquiring and systematizing data, and it can facilitate speed and consistency in complex content analysis. Importantly, it can also present data in a way that is accessible and intuitive for a variety of purposes, while still reflecting its complexity. The transitional justice sector can greatly benefit from examining the technologies that are being implemented in the broader human rights field, identifying developments useful for collecting, analyzing and presenting documentation for use in transitional justice processes.