EyeWitness app converts on-the-ground testimonies into legal evidence of russian war crimes

russia’s war against Ukraine has become the most thoroughly documented conflict in modern history. Yet despite the thousands of materials collected, the sheer scale of atrocities means that many incidents still require proper documentation.

To address this need safely and legally, Ukraine relies on a tool called eyeWitness to Atrocities, developed by the Ukrainian Bar Association back in 2015. The app enables witnesses of war crimes to record photos, videos, and audio, which are immediately granted legal evidentiary status.

Dmytro Hladkyi, a lawyer and representative of eyeWitness to Atrocities in Ukraine, explained at Media Center Ukraine, “The main advantage of eyeWitness is that the materials created cannot be faked. The app automatically generates metadata recording the exact location, time, and chronology of the footage. This ensures that any court or international institution can verify the material as authentic and unaltered. More than 55,000 photos, videos, and audio recordings have been collected with the app’s assistance, all of which are admissible in legal proceedings.”

The app also encrypts recordings instantly and transmits them to the bar association’s servers, preserving the evidence until justice can be pursued. Each file includes unchangeable metadata confirming the precise time, date, and location of the recording, guaranteeing authenticity and adherence to international standards of evidence. Additionally, the app is designed for user safety, it can be discreetly disguised on a witness’s phone.

Hladkyi further emphasized that the app allows witnesses to upload their materials in a manner that meets forensic standards, making the evidence legally relevant and ready for use in court.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news