Using social media in natural disaster management: a human-rights based approach

Abstract

Disaster response authorities in many states have been increasingly using social media data for emergency management. In so doing, it is crucial to consider the ethical and factual provenance of data being processed. This article explores the legal scenario that a software harvesting social media to extract data in disaster management decision support may face. Three legal components are considered: human rights law; international humanitarian law; and the international law on disasters. It is argued that a coherent way of ethically and pragmatically handling this complex regulatory set is by adopting a human rights-based stance. This is also recommended to contrast a shared vision that highlights disproportionately the technological and ‘digital’ dimensions of the humanitarian action. It is argued that for a software device whose purpose is to surf the Internet and grab information to better manage disaster relief operations, key components are context-sensitive design, interoperability, transparency and people-centeredness.

Download
De Stefani P. (2017) "Using social media in natural disaster management: a human-rights based approach " Peace Human Rights Governance, 1(2), 195-221. DOI: 10.14658/PUPJ-PHRG-2017-2-3  
Year of Publication
2017
Journal
Peace Human Rights Governance
Volume
1
Issue Number
2
Start Page
195
Last Page
221
Date Published
07/2017
ISSN Number
2532-3474
Serial Article Number
3
DOI
10.14658/PUPJ-PHRG-2017-2-3
Issue
Section
Articles