The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced the launch of OTPLink, a new application for online and email-based evidence submissions by all external stakeholders and witnesses to my Office.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan says OTPLink will provide a clear, single-access point, replacing various systems and processes that were previously in use for the receipt of information, including submissions pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome Statute.
In a statement, Khan said the new innovative application blends the use of advanced modern-day technology and international law, providing users with a seamless and secure method for submitting potential evidence in real-time from any web-enabled device, effectively bringing relevant events closer to the courtroom.
“The platform ensures that information is gathered quickly, safely, and securely,” he said in a statement.
“OTPLink streamlines the traditional manual review process by allowing the Office to handle larger information volumes utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to offer greater insights into the information received, significantly reducing the time required to review and act on it,” he added.
The platform maintains compliance with international evidence handling standards by using a digital chain of custody trail that collects and preserves information.
This preserves the integrity of the evidence and creates a dependable and tamper-proof record of the collection and handling process.
“It is my hope that the launch of OTPLink will further empower all of our stakeholders, whether affected communities, civil society, or national authorities, allowing you to share information more easily and securely with my Office, and strengthening the basis for our common work to deliver justice for Rome Statute crimes,” noted the ICC Prosecutor.
He further said the launch marks a milestone in OTP’s wider technological upgrade under Project Harmony which represents a key priority for his tenure.
“To pursue justice more effectively, we must harness the power of cutting-edge technology. In today’s world, it is not a luxury, it is a requirement. We need a modern, secure, and dynamic set of collection and analytical tools, allowing us to deliver greater success in our investigations and prosecutions,” Khan said.
Through Project Harmony, the Office of the Prosecutor of ICC is elevating its capacities to quickly review and disclose larger quantities of evidence left by crimes committed in modern-day conflicts.
In addition to OTPLink, the project includes other components that will provide centralised storage for information and evidence, and integrate a range of investigative and analytical tools for secure use in the cloud.
