On 5 and 6 October 2026, the International Criminal Court (ICC) hosted the seminar "New Technologies in Detention" at its headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands, bringing together international detention experts from Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. The event was organised with funding from the European Union.
The seminar provided a unique forum for specialists in Information Technology, prison directors, legal advisers, human rights lawyers, detention stakeholders, medical practitioners, as well as representatives of international organisations to exchange experiences and discuss the implementation and use of new technologies, digitalisation tools, and innovation projects in detention settings.
Opening the seminar, ICC Second Vice-President Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou stated: "New technologies can help positively transform the lives of detained individuals by facilitating the maintenance of ties with their relatives and the institutions responsible for their protection, as well as by supporting their social rehabilitation. However, it is essential to strike a proper balance between these possibilities and the security requirements of detention centers".
"Artificial intelligence, digital health services, remote communication, automated systems, data analytics and increasingly sophisticated monitoring technologies are rapidly becoming part of the environment in which penitentiary institutions operate. ICC Detention cannot remain outside these developments," ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler said. "This conversation also takes place at a particularly important moment for the Court, as it is entering a new phase in the transformation of its technological environment. It means building a more resilient technological ecosystem: diversifying where necessary, reducing critical dependencies, strengthening our own infrastructure and ensuring that the systems supporting the Court's core business remain secure and available."
Over two days, participants explored key issues related to the modernisation of detention facilities, with a human-centred approach, as well as legal and ethical safeguards, remaining at the forefront of discussions on digital innovation. Presentations and discussions focused on good governance and change management of technology in prisons; legal and operational frameworks for implementing new technologies, ensuring a human rights-based approach and data protection; the use of digital tools in judicial environments, including artificial intelligence; technological solutions to facilitate contact with the outside world; and ethical considerations for the use of digital technologies in prison healthcare. Ultimately, the seminar enabled exchanges among practitioners from national and international settings to support the development of best practices for digital and innovative approaches in detention environments.
