Technological Protection of Human Rights : Exploring the Specialized-Emerging Functions of Social Media in Latin America
Latin America is the world’s most violent region. The extent of human rights violations in this part of the world amounts to crimes against humanity affecting the most vulnerable populations across the region — that is, historically, culturally, or politically neglected social groups. Behavioural studies and empirical evidence indicate that these groups are increasingly using technology —and, more particularly, social media platforms — not merely to denounce but also to deter and redress historic trends of human rights violations. For example, women in Honduras are fighting against gender violence and inequality by developing sociopolitical accountability tools through social media over public officials and candidates running for public office. Minorities in Argentina are using social media as political deterrence mechanism to redress government policies targeting refugees and migrants. Victims of conflict in Colombia are using social media as transitional justice forum while political opponents and impoverished social groups in Venezuela are using it to expose human rights violations, trade basic goods and, more recently, as migration tool. This article explores the vital role that social media accomplishes as a technological instrument to protect human rights in Latin America. After analyzing different cases, I conclude that the role of social media in Latin America has evolved from general-progressive functions (e.g., communication, socialization, and participation) to specialized-emerging functions (e.g., legal exposure, political deterrence, sociopolitical accountability, transitional justice e-forum) that are becoming critical to the survival and development of these social groups