Jacobo Castellanos, Program Coordinator, Technology Threats and Opportunities

Jacobo Castellanos is the Coordinator of the Technology, Threats, and Opportunities team at WITNESS, a global human rights organization that empowers people to use video and technology to expose injustice and drive change. In this role, he leads efforts to analyze how emerging technologies, such as generative AI and manipulated media, impact the safety, credibility, and agency of communities documenting human rights abuses.

Jacobo co-chairs the Threats and Harms Task Force of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), a multistakeholder body creating open technical standards for verifiable provenance of digital content. His contributions focus on embedding a human rights lens into both the technical architecture and the governance models of emerging standards, especially in light of growing concerns about mis/disinformation and AI-generated media.

He also leads global consultations with grassroots organizations, journalists, activists, and technologists to ensure that WITNESS’ advocacy is informed by the real-world needs, expectations, and strategies of those most affected. This participatory approach ensures that the policies and technologies WITNESS engages with are not only effective but equitable and inclusive.