Institutional gatekeeping limits justice despite advances in visual evidence technologies
Original framing: “More evidence doesn't mean more justice: The limits of visual technologies in human rights cases” — Phys.org
The exclusion of certain forms of evidence is not new; it echoes colonial legal systems that dismissed indigenous knowledge as 'unscientific.' This historical pattern continues to shape contemporary evidentiary standards, reinforcing structural inequalities.
The current limitations of visual technologies in delivering justice stem from a deeper structural issue: the institutional control over what counts as valid evidence.
This control is rooted in colonial legal frameworks that marginalize non-Western epistemologies and exclude marginalized voices. By integrating diverse knowledge systems, reforming legal institutions, and supporting community-led verification, we can move toward a more just and inclusive evidentiary process. Historical parallels, such as the exclusion of indigenous testimony in colonial courts, highlight the need for systemic change rather than technological solutions alone. This requires a cross-cultural and epistemically pluralistic approach to justice.