Alison Killing: How data-driven journalism illuminates patterns of injustice

How data-driven journalism illuminates patterns of injustice

Data-driven journalism can help pinpoint truths and expose corruption -- even without physical access to where it's happening. Sharing the remarkable discovery of massive alleged detention camps in Xinjiang, China, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and TED Fellow Alison Killing calls for more reliable open-source data, like satellite and social media imagery, to shine a light on the world's darkest places.

Digital tools and satellite imagery are exposing human rights abuses in places previously shrouded in secrecy. Investigators identified over 340 suspected detention sites in Xinjiang by analyzing masked satellite tiles and corroborating with ground-level footage and testimonies. Open-source evidence challenged official narratives, revealing staggering scales of injustice, including facilities large enough to hold more than a million people. As conflicts and crackdowns intensify, access to transparent data becomes vital for accountability and action.