P060. If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, what is the Value of Virtual Reality?

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

The technological developments of the 21st century are extraordinary, as we are surrounded today by technology and enjoy constant connection to the internet. This new technological reality, this additional dimension that is present in modern warfare, leads to both new possibilities and new challenges for legal professionals. These innovative technologies can be used as tools when evidence and legal materials related to war crimes are documented, presented and preserved.

This project aims to explore the role of virtual reality (VR) in relation to the archiving of war crimes material. This aim raises two main research questions. Firstly, what are the legal possibilities and limitations of using VR and metaverse to document, present and archive evidence of war crimes within international criminal law? Secondly, what are some of the potential benefits and drawbacks of these technological tools, especially in relation to transitional justice, reconciliation and the prosecutorial process?

The hypothesis of this project is that the usage of VR for archiving of evidence is mostly indirectly regulated, but the article will show that VR has been used successfully for archival purposes in some instances. It will further analyse potential benefits and drawbacks of using VR and the metaverse when handling and archiving war crimes material such as far easier and more accessible documentation of evidence. The article will explore the idea of having “ambulatory VR offices” that victims and witnesses of war crimes can access directly from their own homes to provide material that can be used as evidence in later prosecutions, or serve an important role in truth and reconciliation commissions.

Author

• Nathalie Ottosson, UiT The Arctic University of Norway