Emerging Technologies and International Criminal Proceedings: Reconciling Judicial Efficiency with Fair Trial Rights

The increasing use of emerging technologies in international criminal proceedings presents opportunities for improving judicial efficiency while raising important concerns regarding the protection of fair trial rights. This article examines the legal and procedural implications of emerging technologies in international criminal proceedings, with particular emphasis on reconciling technological efficiency with the rights of the accused. It specifically seeks to examine the procedural functions of emerging technologies, identify their implications for fair trial guarantees and assess the adequacy of existing international criminal procedural safeguards. The study adopts a doctrinal legal research methodology, relying on an analysis of international legal instruments, judicial decisions, procedural frameworks and relevant scholarly literature. The findings demonstrate that although technologies such as digital evidence systems, open-source intelligence, machine translation and remote testimony can improve the efficiency of criminal proceedings, their application may create challenges relating to evidentiary reliability, transparency, disclosure, equality of arms and effective defence participation. The article further establishes that existing legal frameworks do not sufficiently address all technology-related procedural challenges. Consequently, it proposes a framework of contestable efficiency, founded on proportionate technological scrutiny, an efficiency dividend for defence capacity and the preservation of human judicial responsibility. The article concludes that technological innovation can legitimately advance international criminal justice only where its benefits remain consistent with fair trial rights and meaningful judicial oversight.