This is a really important piece
"These videos are filmed in pursuit of justice, and with the knowledge that, as documentors of a racist crime, they face retribution as well."
User-generated evidence is such a complex beast. Yes, it brings to light violations that may not see accountability otherwise
But filming is not costless. And its cost is not neutral. In most cases the cost falls on those who are already vulnerable.
And I can't shake the feeling that at its core user generated evidence involves those without power being compelled to take on more risk, when a humane society would see a broken system, where certain violations never see accountability..
...and look to those with the most privilege and power to take on the risk involved in changing that system
There is nothing novel in this. The disproportionate burden on the least powerful is the history of change. But that's no reason to a/ not call it out and b/ not work on systems to do it differently
My thinking on this in the context of international crimes was developed in writing this: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf…
But the concern about the security of the smartphone users doing the filming is the same in the domestic context
User Generated Evidence is often viewed as a tech-driven " new" and "empowering" phenomenon. It can be empowering but the unequal burden of risk embedded within it is as old as time.
Unroll please @threadreaderapp
