Finding solutions to digital threats

The Use and Abuse of Technology

Human Rights First

What's Happening

At a time when technology is increasingly changing our lives for the better, it’s also being used to empower dangerous ideologies and systems.

What We're Doing

Our team and allies are building technological solutions to uncover and address human rights abuses, shift the balance of power, and hold violators accountable.

Current Efforts

Taking Action

Democratic Institutions

A Proxy War: Attacks on Diversity in the Military Target American Civil Rights

Summary: The far-right extremist campaign to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)[1] in the U.S. military is a proxy for their broader efforts to roll back civil rights in the…

Fact Sheets

Democratic Institutions

Lawsuit Filed Against Patriot Front for Racist Attack in Boston

Press

Antisemitism

Recycled Bigotry: Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories Go Mainstream

Far-right actors in the U.S. center historic antisemitic conspiracy theories as a key tactic in their campaign to mainstream hate and extremism. This approach gives new life to anti-Jewish tropes…

Fact Sheets

Misogyny & Anti-LGBTQ+ Extremism

Anti-Trans Extremism: The Far Right’s New Strategy to Spread Hate

Mainstream far-right actors are escalating a nationwide campaign to eliminate the trans community from American society – a dangerous threat to trans people and one that portends broader attacks on…

Fact Sheets

Democratic Institutions

Male Supremacy and Misogyny: Mainstreaming Extremism Through Local Government

WHAT IS MALE SUPREMACY AND MISOGYNY? Male supremacism is a social hierarchy which places cisgendered—or straight—men as superior to others and justifies their social and political control. Misogyny—a key element…

Fact Sheets

Xenophobia / Anti-Immigrant Extremism

Xenophobia & Anti-Immigrant Extremism: From Fringe to Mainstream

WHAT IS XENOPHOBIA & ANTI-IMMIGRANT EXTREMISM? Xenophobia and anti-immigrant extremism perpetuate the idea that immigrants, or people who are perceived to be “foreign” or “outsiders,” threaten America’s founding ideals and…

Fact Sheets

Democratic Institutions

On Anniversary of January 6, Antidemocratic Extremism is Mainstream

WASHINGTON –  On the second anniversary of the insurrection at the United States Capitol, Human Rights First reprised its call to bring those responsible for the attack to justice. “The…

Press

Democratic Institutions

January 6th Committee Report Renews Call for Criminal Accountability

WASHINGTON –  With today’s publication of the final report of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol and the recommendation of four…

Press

Democratic Institutions

“Digital Soldiers”: QAnon Extremists Exploit U.S. Military, Threaten Democracy

QAnon Extremists Exploit U.S. Military, Threaten Democracy This report examines how the QAnon movement exploits the U.S. military’s credibility in society to further its aim of undermining American democracy. It…

Reports

Technology

Innovation Lab

project

Xenophobia / Anti-Immigrant Extremism

Extremism and Human Rights

project

Technology for good

Sample of what SurvAI's violence detection capabilities look like, applied to an image of a protester in a crowd of armed police.

Our Innovation Lab builds tech and engages talent to protect human rights and defend democracy.