THE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR DOCUMENTING WAR CRIMES: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH BETWEEN JOURNALISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the urgent need to ensure reliable recording of war crimes using digital technologies that meet the standards of evidence accepted in international justice. In the context of full-scale armed aggression in Ukraine, the synergy between journalistic investigations and human rights analysis is of great importance, as it ensures not only the prompt collection of facts, but also their legal legitimacy. The aim of the study is to substantiate the role of digital technologies as a tool for recording, preserving, and transforming evidence of war crimes in the context of cross-sectoral interaction between journalists and human rights defenders, as well as to develop scientifically sound approaches to improving the effectiveness of this cooperation. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive approach that includes a systematic analysis of the functioning of digital platforms, the identification of the main functions of each tool, the generalization of mechanisms for integrating evidence into the evidence base, and the application of a critical-analytical method to identify problems and find effective solutions.Particular attention is paid to the typology of digital practices and their evaluation in an interdisciplinary context. The results of the study confirm that cross-sectoral cooperation increases the accuracy of digital evidence verification, promotes compliance with evidence validity requirements, and reduces the risks of information fragmentation. The significant potential of integrated technological solutions for creating a reliable digital footprint suitable for forensic analysis has been revealed. The conclusions confirm that an important factor in successful digital documentation is not only technological accessibility, but also the methodological consistency of the processes of collecting, verifying, and archiving materials. Prospects for further research are related to an in-depth study of the mechanisms of automated classification of digital evidence, the development of universal protocols for ethical interaction, and the testing of adaptive verification models for open access platforms.