IN CONFLICT, objectivity is often a casualty. On 1 August 2014 Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin was declared missing in action in southern Gaza after a firefight with Hamas in which two Israelis and a Palestinian were killed. Israeli officials feared Goldin had been captured, or his body seized. They responded with an assault on the area that killed many civilians and damaged houses.
That much is clear, but many details are heavily disputed. Israel says Hamas attacked in violation of a ceasefire; Hamas denies this and says Israel鈥檚 retaliation illegally killed over 100 civilians.
This is where innovative technology can provide impartial information. A project called Forensic Architecture has stitched together eyewitness pictures and video posted on social media (see 鈥�The walls have eyes: Buildings reveal the conflict they witness鈥�), from which a near-complete account of the Israeli assault has been built.
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The reconstruction may end up being presented as evidence in the International Criminal Court. Let鈥檚 hope it does. Let鈥檚 hope it helps to establish the truth 鈥� and also sends out a clear signal to governments, armies and militias around the world that, thanks to ubiquitous technology in the hands of ordinary citizens, and projects like Forensic Architecture, little brother is watching them.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淐rowdsourcing truth鈥�
