Artificial Intelligence in War Crimes Investigation: Opportunities And Risks

Abstract

This article examines the opportunities and risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence in the investigation of war crimes. The relevance of this topic stems from the significant increase in the volume of digital information that may hold evidentiary value—including photographs, video footage, satellite imagery, open-source data, social media content, electronic documents, and geolocation data. Processing such vast datasets using traditional methods requires substantial time and personnel resources, thereby necessitating the use of modern technological tools.

This paper examines the primary applications of artificial intelligence in the collection, systematization, classification, and analysis of information related to war crimes. Particular attention is paid to the use of machine learning algorithms, computer vision, and natural language processing technologies for analyzing photographic, video, and textual materials; recognizing objects and individuals; establishing spatiotemporal links between events; and processing large datasets. The prospects for utilizing artificial intelligence in working with open-source intelligence (OSINT), digital evidence, and satellite imagery are also outlined.

At the same time, the key risks associated with the use of such technologies have been analyzed. These include the potential for erroneous or biased results, the dependence of algorithms on the quality of input data, a lack of transparency in algorithmic decision-making processes, and violations of privacy and personal data protection. A distinct threat is posed by the proliferation of deepfake technologies capable of creating or altering digital content, which complicates the verification of its authenticity and reliability.

It is argued that the outputs of artificial intelligence cannot be automatically accepted as reliable evidence and must undergo proper verification and procedural assessment. Artificial intelligence should be utilized as an auxiliary tool that enhances the speed and efficiency of investigators, prosecutors, and experts, without replacing their professional judgment. The study concludes that there is a need to improve legal regulation, develop unified standards for verifying digital evidence, and ensure appropriate human oversight regarding the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the investigation of war crimes.