Social Network Analysis, Crime Prevention and Human Rights

Use of Social Network Analysis (hereinafter as SNA) in crime prevention and law enforcement is widely discussed from either practical or theoretical point of view. Although its advantages are commonly acknowledged, incorporation of SNA into strategies of combating crime raises various controversies. The main aim of this paper is to present risks connected with application of SNA in practice, as a part of policing, from the point of view of the human rights system. The assumption is that all of legal responses to violence have to be in accordance with the human rights law requirements. As this subject matter is exceptionally complex, two main aspects of this issue have been chosen on the base of their significance – risk of infringement of the right to privacy and of politicization of the use of SNA, especially in the context of so-called “suspect communities.” The possibility of indication of prompt solutions to presented matters has been discussed. As such, this paper is an introduction to presented subject area and provides a basis for further research.