Natural threats
Flooding, earthquakes, fire, humidity, dirtiness, fungi, insects,
rodents, etc.
Human threats
Theft, confiscation, drives’ breaking, fire, etc.
Preservation for different time horizons
Preservation should be considered as a transversal necessity that requires specific actions
at different stages of the data lifecycle: from collection to sharing. As we will see later, at
the collection moment we can create some marks to later prove the authenticity of the
content, we can take actions to ensure that information is stored safely, or we can share
the information guaranteeing its integrity, among other actions.
All the preservation actions are carried out keeping in mind the future use of information.
This means that our information should remain accessible, findable, properly stored and
organised, but also that it preserves its integrity and authenticity. Here are some examples
about different information uses in short, mid and long-term:
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In the short-term we can use the data we have collected to search for a missing
person or demand the release of an individual in case of arbitrary arrest.
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In the medium-term we can use our data as evidence to litigate and hold the
perpetrators of a past event accountable.
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In the long-term we can use the insights of our data to create collective memory and
ensure no repetition of past HR violations.
Actions for preservation
There are many preservation actions that you can use depending on your data,
preservation challenges and institutional goals. There is not a perfect solution that fits for
every situation so, usually, the most effective is to combine them in different moments.
Here are some of the most common actions.
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