IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014 - 42

LEADING EDGE

FELICITY GERRY

Data Uses to Combat
Human Rights Abuses

here is a moment in the film Working Girl
when Melanie Griffith is in a life with the
boss of Trask Enterprises and she has to prove
that a radio deal was her idea before reaching
the top floor, where Sigourney Weaver plans to usurp
the whole show. Melanie's character, Tess McGill produces a women's magazine and demonstrates how two
separate articles led to a lightbulb moment. It's a great
moment in cinema and led to a huge (albeit fictional)
financial deal. My bright idea is to bring together data
researchers and human rights lawyers in a similar way
to capture the contents of the pockets of philanthropic
industrialists for the greater good.
As I spend an inordinate amount of time in front of
my computer, on my iPad, and texting about violence
against women and girls, gang rape, and genocide, it is
a less entertaining version of the movie but makes me
wonder in which lift the real Mr. Trask is traveling. I am
conscious that in writing for IEEE Technology & Society
Magazine, readers will wince at the following description of data uses but, that's the point: As a lawyer my
practical experience is to test the evidence of an alleged
abuse. As a researcher it is to expose the context of global
abuse, and as an academic it is to bring it all together and
make a novel contribution to knowledge in the area.
Data can be harnessed to improve the human condition in all sorts of ways. The collection and analysis of
data for research purposes is as important, some may
say, as any basic human freedoms. Think for example
of conducting research, data collection, and analysis
in order to prevent violence against women and girls.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MTS.2014.2371371
Date of publication: 1 December 2014

Research, data collection, and analysis are critical to
effective advocacy efforts and resource mobilization,
program development, policy implementation, and
monitoring of interventions [1]. Data showing life patterns can be used to improve lives for the most vulnerable in society. There are plainly "good" uses for data
analysis such as the improvement of Government services [2], by tailoring public services to actual need
based on usage. 'Smart cities' already exist where big
data is analyzed providing enormous savings [3].
Data collection and dissemination allow businesses
to understand customer demand on given days, allowing them to predict the number of staff required, levels of stock, opening hours, turnover, and profitability
[4]. This type of data can mean the difference between
success and failure. Data analysis can go further:
devices logged in store can be used to map the pattern
of movement throughout the store, allowing retailers
to maximize customer's exposure to merchandise [4].
Why shouldn't the same be done to monitor the
appalling state of affairs as millions are confined to
camps on the borders of Syria or individuals are trafficked and abused within countries and from one
country to another? Smart technology employing data
analysis provides big benefits to the public in developed countries, adjusting the provision of services and
facilities to only those which are used and required. It
is a small step to move the concept to lesser developed
nations. Crowd sourcing technology is already being
used to protect people in dangerous environments [5].
Countries like East Timor are rapidly climbing out of
appalling loss of life in conflict, to a system of growth
attracting foreign investment. As always, for developing countries, this is occurring with intermittent Wi-Fi.
IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

WINTER 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - Winter 2014