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Tech Fuels Crime in Latin America
21 Oct
Summary
- Criminals use satellite internet and drones for illegal mining.
- Social media advertises mercury for illegal gold mining.
- Technology exploitation threatens forests and remote communities.
Criminal organizations across Latin America are leveraging advanced technologies, including satellite internet and drones, to bolster illegal mining and expand their operations. The Office of the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) has called for enhanced government oversight of technology transfers and use.
Services like Starlink are reportedly used for logistics in remote mining areas lacking traditional infrastructure. Drones are employed for surveillance and territorial control, with hundreds of incidents involving weaponized drones recorded across the region since 2018. Furthermore, social media platforms are being used to market mercury, a toxic substance crucial for illegal gold mining.
REDESCA highlighted public prosecutor data showing numerous TikTok posts advertising mercury, accumulating millions of views. While these technologies aid criminal activities, they can also empower Indigenous communities to detect deforestation and illegal mining, providing evidence for land defense. The commission also noted the inherent environmental costs associated with developing and operating advanced technologies.
