Innovative eyeWitness to Atrocities app is focus of IBA and JustTalk Ukraine technology event
The International Bar Association (IBA) and JustTalk Ukraine hosted an event in Kyiv to explore the use and efficacy of new technologies in military conflict. Titled ‘Technology in the fight against war crimes: challenges and paths to justice’ the event brought together experts, practitioners and international partners, including the IBA-founded eyeWitness to Atrocities (eyeWitness), to discuss the experience, risks and future of integrating technology into justice.
Since 2022, eyeWitness has received 55,000 items of photos, videos and audio recordings from Ukraine. Four cases in the country have relied on footage captured using the eyeWitness app with three cases held before the Commercial Court in Kharkiv, and one case held before Kharkiv District Administrative Court.
Discussions on Wednesday, 4 June 2025,focused on how digital tools can complement traditional investigative methods, how to ensure the legal validity of evidence collected using technology and the experiences of Ukraine’s citizens using the eyeWitness app to collect potential evidence.
Watch the English language recording of the event here.
Mark Ellis, IBA Executive Director, commented: ‘Since the beginning of Russia’s illegal war, the IBA has been standing at the side of Ukraine’s legal community in its fight for justice. The fact that the eyeWitness app is now being actively used in Ukrainian courts is just the latest example of how our support is making a material difference in this conflict. We know it will continue to be of use, and encourage all those who are interested to utilise the app as widely as possible.’
Dmytro Hladkyi, lawyer and representative of the eyeWitness to Atrocities programme in Ukraine, said: ‘eyeWitness automatically records the time of filming and location, and ensures the reliability of the data obtained. This completely removes any doubts about the authenticity of the material.’
Carrie Bowker, the Director of eyeWitness to Atrocities, who joined the event via video link, commented: ‘Our goal is to make sure that this valuable footage, often captured at great risk to documenters, can be used for justice and accountability and to bridge the gap between those on the ground who are documenting, and accountability mechanisms.’
Ivan Dulkyi, senior investigator of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine, added: ‘The key to the effective use of technology is not a "universal" investigator who "knows a little about everything," but a team with a clear division of roles. This approach allows optimising the investigation process and ensuring consistency in the use of technical means.’
The eyeWitness to Atrocities app was designed for individuals, civil society groups and journalists to capture footage of atrocity crimes and serious human rights violations. The captured footage can be used for international investigations, such as at the International Criminal Court, and in domestic cases.
ENDS
Contact: IBApressoffice@int-bar.org
Notes
- How the eyeWitness to atrocities app works: To ensure the integrity and reliability of digital evidence, the eyeWitness app generates a digital fingerprint at the moment photos, videos or audio recordings are captured. This fingerprint is created using a cryptographic hash function that uniquely represents the file's data. When the media is later uploaded, a new fingerprint is generated and compared to the original. A perfect match confirms that the content has not been tampered with in any way. Upon upload, the footage is encrypted and stored in a secure evidence repository by IBA partner LexisNexis. Simultaneously, the app maintains a detailed chain of custody by recording who accessed the file and when. This comprehensive process verifies the time, date and location of the footage, affirms its authenticity and ensures its integrity throughout the handling process. These safeguards are crucial to ensuring that footage can be admissible and credible as evidence in legal proceedings.
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- The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, with the aim of protecting and promoting the rule of law globally, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.
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