Lisa Schirch
25 Spheres of Digital Peacebuilding and PeaceTech
Categories
Information Search
Technology
Mobile Phone Technology
Video Technology
Data Collection,
Management, and
Visualization Technology
Internet Communication
Data Analytics
Machine Learning and
Artificial Intelligence
Virtual Reality
Geospatial technology
Social Media
Blockchain
9
Examples
Search Engines such as Google
Calling, texting, camera, video
YouTube, TikTok, Twitch
OpenXData, KoBoToolbox, etc
Email, Skype, Zoom, Whatsapp, Messenger, etc
Crowdtangle, Hootsuite, Storyful, etc
Algorithms, bots, and other programmed technology that
makes decisions, learns, or acts on its own accord
Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard, etc
Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), Drones, etc
Twitter, Weibo, Facebook, Instagram
Cryptocurrencies and other record-keeping technologies
People can harness these technologies for both positive and negative goals. They can be
exploited to generate hatred of another identity group, to organise an act of terror against
civilians, to launch a cyberattack against hospitals or universities, or to generate support
for mass violence and genocide. But these tools can also be used to support the work for
social cohesion, human security, and peace.
Build Peace offers an online course, Digital Peacebuilding 101, that reviews these types of
peace tech.30 Build Peace describes three basic functions of technology expanding on the
idea of “information” and “communication” technology (ICT). They break the “ICT”
framework into three parts: information, strategic communication, and
dialogue/networking:
First, technology can help to gather, analyse and visualize information. Technology can
gather information from drones or satellites which can record photographs of movements
of displaced people, weapons, or troops. Data scraping can search information on websites
or social media channels to collate information across the internet. Mobile surveys can
collect public perceptions. Technology can then help to analyse information and then
visualize it so that others can see information in a way that enables them to make better
decisions and plans based on this information.
Second, technology can be used to support strategic communication. Technology allows
people to share information more quickly, which can help to debunk false information.
See Build Up’s website for access to the free digital course on “Digital Peacebuilding 101” at https://howtobuildup.org/community-learning/courses/digital-peacebuilding-101-introducing-technology-for-peacebuilding/
30