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How have recent advances in technology impacted the practice of torture and forced disappearances?

Iridian Ricks

Recent advances in technology have had a significant impact on the practice of torture and forced disappearances. In the past, torture and forced disappearances were primarily conducted through physical means, such as beating, electrocution or suffocation. However, with the advent of modern technology, these tactics have evolved and become more sophisticated, requiring new strategies to combat them.

One of the most significant technological advances is the use of surveillance technology. Governments and other authoritarian regimes have been utilizing all forms of surveillance, from closed-circuit television (CCTV) to mobile phone and internet monitoring, to track the activities of individuals whom they suspect of opposing their policies. Such surveillance makes it easier for the authorities to identify and abduct individuals who might be opposing them. For example, security services may be able to track people who use their mobile phones to organize protests or movements, so they might be tortured or forcibly disappeared.

Furthermore, advances in biometric technology have given authorities new tools to target individuals they identify as dissidents. Biometric data includes things like facial recognition, iris scans, and fingerprints. Governments can use biometric data to keep tabs on individuals, even if they change their physical appearance. For instance, people protesting against an authoritarian regime might decide to shave their facial hair to avoid detection, but facial recognition technology can still identify them using their facial structure.

Another technological advance that has impacted the practice of torture and forced disappearances has been the development of psychotropic drugs. These drugs inhibit brain activity and give torturers the ability to interrogate victims without the need for physical violence. Additionally, drugs that induce memory loss can be administered so that even if a person survives torture, they'll have no recollection of what happened.

Lastly, digital manipulation techniques have increasingly been used to manufacture evidence against opponents. Video manipulation technologies, often referred to as "deepfakes," enable the creation of fake footage of individuals in compromising situations. Such manipulated videos can be used to blackmail or slander opponents, leading to their torture, or forced disappearance.

In conclusion, technology has transformed the practice of torture and forced disappearances. New high-tech surveillance tools, biometric data collection, psychotropic drugs, and digital manipulation techniques have made it difficult to protect citizens. With the increased use of such tools, we must work to develop countermeasures to safeguard human rights and protect political dissidents. As citizens, we must continue to advocate for transparency and accountability to ensure that technological advances are not used to abuse or harm people.