By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.
Illegal mining has negative social, environmental, and fiscal impacts on host
countries. Monitoring technologies can help curb illegal activities by providing new
information or the threat that the information is widely accessible. I used a technology
based on machine learning and satellite imagery to detect illegal mining.
Subsequently, I randomly disclosed the technology and possible mine locations to
government agents. I find that illegal mining is reduced in the disclosed locations
and surrounding areas in treated municipalities. These results illustrate the benefits
of new technologies for building state capacity.
