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.
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Latest Publications
Big Tech Firms are Racing to Track Climate Refugees
Citation:
Mark Latonero. 5/17/2019. “Big Tech Firms are Racing to Track Climate Refugees.” MIT Technology Review. See full text.
Abstract:
The MIT Technology Review features new report by Carr Center Technology and Human Rights Fellow Mark Latonero.
"Simply layering technology on top of existing humanitarian problems tends to exacerbate the issues it intended to resolve. In a new report on the role of digital identity in refugee and migrant contexts, a team of researchers at the Data & Society Research Institute, led by Mark Latonero, detail the various ways these initiatives can reproduce and worsen existing bureaucratic biases."
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613531/big-tech-firms-are-racing-to-track-climate-refugees/
: Mark Latonero | May 17 2019
: Tech Fellow Mark Latonero report explores how layering technology on top of existing humanitarian problems can exacerbate the issues it intended to resolve.
Deepfakes are Solvable—but Don’t Forget That “shallowfakes” are Already Pervasive
Citation:
Mark Latonero. 3/25/2019. “Deepfakes are Solvable—but Don’t Forget That “shallowfakes” are Already Pervasive.” MIT Technology Review. See full text.
Abstract:
New article features Carr Center Technology and Human Rights Fellow Mark Latonero.
" Mark Latonero, human rights lead at Data & Society, a nonprofit institute dedicated to the applications of data, agreed that technology companies should be doing more to tackle such issues. While Microsoft, Google, Twitter, and others have employees focused on human rights, he said, there was so much more they should be doing before they deploy technologies—not after."
: Mark Latonero | Mar 25 2019
: Tech fellow Mark Latonero notes companies should be doing more to consider human rights implications before deploying technologies.
How to Solve Homelessness With Artificial Intelligence
Citation:
Desmond Patton. 4/21/2019. “How to Solve Homelessness With Artificial Intelligence.” Ozy. See full text.
Abstract:
New article on Ozy.com featuring Carr Center Technology and Human Rights Fellow Desmond Patton.
“This is a pioneering phase for social work and AI,” says Desmond Patton, a professor at Columbia University who uses natural language processing algorithms to analyze gang violence. “I don’t think it’s a space yet.”
: Desmond Patton | Apr 21 2019
: Tech fellow Desmond Patton discusses the intersection of social work and tech for OZY article.
“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