System Error

Since it was established in 2002, all 30 cases brought before the International Criminal Court have involved African nationals. So is the court being used as a colonial tool? VICE World News talks to experts to find out.

Nearly two years after Boeing’s brand new 737 max aircraft jets crashed in Ethiopia and Indonesia killing 346, flights have resumed in the United States, Europe and Canada. But whistleblowers at Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration as well as the families of those killed aboard the two fatal flights argue that the Max is still unfit to fly.

As the world reels from COVID-19, VICE World News looks at how the World Health Organization has been hollowed out from within, leaving the world needlessly and catastrophically vulnerable to new diseases.

Aid organizations and the UN have a decades-old pattern of sexual abuse and solicitation of prostitution in countries ravaged by natural disasters and conflict. VICE World News looks at these organizations that help those that are most in need, but also perpetuate a history of violence and a colonial past.

Contrary to popular belief Interpol is not an international police force that chases criminals around the world, their main role is to serve as a kind of international bulletin board. After 9/11, Interpol became a tool for governments around the globe, but autocratic nations like Russia, Turkey and China have abused that system to track down political dissidents. This is the story of Interpol’s System Error.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has the gargantuan task of taking performance enhancement drugs out of sports. VICE News looks at why their struggle to achieve that goal is far from over.

Vice World News looks at how UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites can be used to undermine minorities and boost tourism.

The World Wide Fund for Nature works directly with paramilitary forces to fight poaching across Africa and Asia. In 2019, the conservation organisation was accused of funding park rangers that were implicated in the murder, torture and rape of indigenous communities in national parks.

European Union subsidies, designed to stabilize prices and boost food production, are ending up in the hands of violent mafias and corrupt politicians across Europe.

Who holds private military contractors responsible for their crimes?

Today, 97 percent of kidnappings at sea take place in the Gulf of Guinea, making this region the piracy hotspot of the world. But why is piracy thriving in these waters?

Fossil fuel companies knew about climate change decades ago. But instead of doing something about it, they spent millions to confuse the public and seed doubt. VICE World News explores their seedy tactics.

The fight to end modern slavery has become a celebrated cause, championed by celebrities and governments. But this fight isn't completely what it seems. While governments have pledged millions to tackle modern slavery, how genuine are these attempts, and is the term being used to justify tough immigration policies? This is how governments are misleading us about their fight against modern slavery.

From the Taliban in Afghanistan to ISIS in Iraq, American state-of-the-art weaponry keeps falling into the hands of the enemy. So how are these arms fueling conflict around the world?

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a history of controversy. It’s been blamed for not acting fast enough. It’s also been blamed for rushing products to market. The FDA has a tough job. It regulates a powerful industry with a lot of money — and questionable practices. With American distrust for Big Pharma at an all-time high, the FDA’s role is more important than ever. This is how the FDA could be doing a better job at protecting Americans from the greed of some pharmaceutical companies.

Why are officers preying on their colleagues and those they are sworn to protect? VICE World News explores why the police and the military are abusing women, and how little is being done about it.

On December 6, Facebook was sued for its role in facilitating the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. The Facebook Papers revealed how the company chased profits - often at the expense of safety. So can we trust Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse won't become a tool for misinformation and surveillance?

On January 20, an inquest in Germany found that Pope Benedict knew about priests who abused children but failed to act. Now, cases against the Catholic Church over child sex abuse are growing in the United States. Pope Francis has promised “decisive action” on the issue and encouraged the reporting of allegations. But survivors’ advocates allege that the church and its lobbyists oppose legislation that could allow more victims to come forward, and fight against the disclosure of important documents.

As the Winter Olympics takes place in Beijing, visiting athletes have been warned not to speak out against China’s human rights abuses. From Ecuador to Uganda, China’s surveillance technology has gone global. In this episode of System Error, we examine how these new tools have made spying easier for both dictatorships and democracies.

Drone warfare has transformed combat. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force utilized Turkish-made drones to offset some of Russia’s enormous military advantage.

In January 2022, scores of suspected Islamic State militants escaped a jail in northeastern Syria during a sophisticated breakout. It was the group’s boldest attack in the region since the end of their self-declared caliphate. This is how ISIS is using prisons to prepare its comeback, and how governments - who spent billions on the fight against ISIS - are turning a blind eye.

In January 2021, US President Biden signed an executive order ending federal contracts with private prison companies. But did it go far enough? A year on, the companies have already found loopholes. Private prisons have been proven to be less safe for inmates and staff, and have higher rates of violence. But the companies have read the tea leaves and have expanded into new profit areas. Will there be a repeat of their desire to put profits over people?

Oil fuels international conflict, corruption and authoritarianism while also killing the planet. Until now, most nations were happy to put up with this, but Russia’s war with Ukraine may spell an end to that. ​​ So far, EU countries have paid Russia $44 billion for oil and gas since the conflict began. In this episode, we investigate how the fossil fuels are financing Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.