The Carr Center for Human Rights Policy serves as the hub of the Harvard Kennedy School’s research, teaching, and training in the human rights domain. The center embraces a dual mission: to educate students and the next generation of leaders from around the world in human rights policy and practice; and to convene and provide policy-relevant knowledge to international organizations, governments, policymakers, and businesses.

 

News and Announcements

Yanilda Maria Gonzalez Making a Movement

Making a Movement: Yanilda María González on Police Violence Against Racialized Communities

March 18, 2024

In her essay for the Carr Center's latest publication, Making a Movement: The History and Future of Human Rights, Yanilda María González discusses one of the most pervasive racial justice challenges: continued police violence against racialized and impoverished communities. 

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Latest Publications

Rights, Systematicity, and Misinformation

Rights, Systematicity, and Misinformation

Abstract:

"The ethical impacts of technology can be understood, in part, by examining how it bears on human rights."

In this discussion paper by Matthew MacDonald, Technology & Human Rights Fellow ('22-'23), he discusses the dangers of new technology, misinformation, and how they intersect with human rights. "...It is possible for rights to evolve over time, and for new rights to emerge, in response to changes in the “systematicity” of significant hazards. Hateful misinformation is one hazard which is growing increasingly systematic as a result of technologically-driven changes to the infosystem. This motivates carefully re-examining the limits of an established right (the right to free speech), and seriously evaluating the case for a new right (a distinctive right against misinformation)," he writes.

Read the full paper here.

author/date: Matthew MacDonald | February 27, 2024
teaser text: The ethical impacts of technology can change how human rights evolve over time, with new rights emerging in response to changes in the “systematicity” of significant hazards, such as the rise in hateful misinformation.
Last updated on 02/27/2024

Game Over: The Unintended Consequences of Video Game Moderation

24_foxcahn_enzer.pdf5.6 MB
Game Over: The Unintended Consequences of Video Game Moderation

Abstract:

Online video games are social networks, afflicted with the same speech moderation questions as other social media platforms, like Meta and Twitter, including rampant abuse, harassment, and misinformation. Without effective self-regulation, the United States and other countries have sought to regulate gaming’s messages, content, and user experience. However, video games are not passive media players consume. They are an interactive medium steered by users’ participation and speech. Video games are much more like interactive worlds, like virtual reality platforms, seeking to bring work, parties, dating, play, and everyday life online. If governments choose to regulate video games, they must balance legitimate content moderation needs with the rights of Free Speech, Free Expression, and Free Association. Governments should enact legislation that empowers users’ freedom, like strong privacy and anti-government surveillance laws, instead of restrictive laws to prohibit categories of speech in video games. 

Read the full paper here.

author/date: Albert Fox Cahn & Evan Enzer | Feb. 16, 2024
teaser text: Online video games are social networks – and in addressing the same speech moderation questions as other social media platforms, governments should enact legislation to better empowers users’ freedom, rather than restrictive laws prohibiting speech.
Last updated on 02/16/2024

Does AI Understand Arabic? Evaluating the Politics Behind the Algorithmic Arabic Content Moderation

24_elswah.pdf4.26 MB
Does AI Understand Arabic? Evaluating the Politics Behind the Algorithmic Arabic Content Moderation

Abstract:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to be integrated into various domains and industries. Over the years, social media companies have utilized AI technologies to moderate users’ content, personalize recommendations, and optimize overall user experience. While machine learning models have been found effective in identifying and addressing harmful and violent content, a mounting number of concerns were raised regarding the bias and discriminatory decisions made by these models when applied to non-English content.

In this paper, Mona Elswah (Technology & Human Rights Fellow '22-'23) zooms in on the AI-powered content moderation by Meta’s Facebook in relation to managing Arabic content. She argues that the Arabic content is subject to “inconsistent moderation,” meaning that some content will be over-moderated, while other content will be left untouched despite violating the platforms’ standards. These inconsistencies have limited users’ ability to engage in meaningful political debates in the region. Put simply, Arabic-speaking users are now uncertain whether their content will be deleted or kept by the algorithm. This type of unclear and inconsistent moderation has led to a social distrust towards AI tools and applications among Arab Internet users. 

Read the paper here.

author/date: Mona Elswah | January 30, 2024
teaser text: Inconsistencies in AI content moderation for Arabic-speaking users on social media is limiting meaningful political debates in the region.
Last updated on 01/31/2024
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Upcoming Events

2024 Mar 19

Human Rights Film Screening: No U-Turn (Generation Africa)

5:00pm to 8:00pm

Location: 

Malkin Penthouse

Event Description: This event is part of the Carr Center’s Human Rights Film Series and is co-sponsored by the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics. This series aims to explore the human rights challenges faced by individuals around the world. The screening will feature both the film and a panel discussion. Light refreshments and pizza will be served during the event.

Film Description...

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2024 Mar 21

Cobalt Red: Modern Slavery, Child Labor, and Cobalt Mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo

5:00pm to 6:00pm

Location: 

Rubenstein Building - R-306 CLUSTER CLASSROOM

This lecture is a part of the Carr Center's symposium on Global Anti-Blackness and the Legacy of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

Event Description: Come join us for a lecture with NY Times Bestselling author Siddharth Kara, as he discusses the topics covered in his book, Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives.

Book Summary: Cobalt Red is the searing, first-ever exposé of the immense toll taken on the people and environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by cobalt...

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2024 Mar 22

Symposium on Global Anti-Blackness and the Legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

8:15am to 4:00pm

Location: 

Malkin Penthouse

Event Description: The Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, UNESCO, and the U.S. Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice at the Department of State, Desirée Cormier Smith, present a major event on global efforts to prevent modern slavery and combat anti-Black racism. This event will focus on the Legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on March 22, 2024, which coincides with the tenth and final year of the UN’s International Decade...

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“The Carr Center is building a bridge between ideas on human rights and the practice on the ground. Right now we are at a critical juncture. The pace of technological change and the rise of authoritarian governments are both examples of serious challenges to the flourishing of individual rights. It’s crucial that Harvard and the Kennedy School continue to be a major influence in keeping human rights ideals alive. The Carr Center is a focal point for this important task.”

 

- Mathias Risse