Amnesty International's 'Trial by Timeline' shows how you'd be punished for being you

How harshly would you be punished if you were to proclaim that you’re an atheist in an ultra-conservative country? Or if you were to announce that you’re a homosexual? A Facebook app by human rights NGO Amnesty International will tell you if you would be beaten, stoned, beheaded or simply jailed for being yourself.

The app called “Trial by Timeline” sifts through your Facebook profile to categorise information you share on the website that could be counted as a crime in many countries. The tool then goes on to tell you your “crimes” that could range from blasphemy to being involved with the media and from being a female to having a Facebook account in the first place.

133 convictions for 7 crimes in 57 countries

Over a neat world map, the app will lay down all your crimes, with a tally counter on the lower half of the page informing you about the punishments that you would receive if you were in another country.

The app has been developed by the New Zealand branch of Amnesty International. “This year New Zealand was names as one of the freest counties on Earth,” reads the introductory page of Trial by Timeline. “Sadly, everyday people all over the world suffer punishments simply for attempting a quality of life we take for granted.” The app, hence, tries to give users who are based in far more tolerant countries a glimpse of what it might be like to be meted out punishments for trying to lead a better life.

Indeed, Trial by Timeline is to be taken with a pinch of salt. It only aims to create awareness around the topic of human rights violation in some countries through shocking you by using your own information. It’s a great attempt by Amnesty International to create awareness about our freedoms that we usually take for granted because we’re lucky enough to be in the country we’re currently in.