The Shot Line
Reviewed by: Madison Watkins
Review date: March 19, 2025
Site Link: https://www.theshotline.org/
Archive Link: http://archive.today/YJcDt
Keywords: Contemporary, Activism and Advocacy, Artificial Intelligence, Public Humanities, Political Science
Data Sources:
- Gun Violence Archive
- Testimonies of individuals impacted by gun violence
- Public data and records on gun-related incidents
Processes:
- Weaving individual stories into broader data narratives
- Reconstructing the voices of people killed by gun violence using AI
- Designing an interactive system that lets users send AI-generated calls directly to representatives
Presentation:
The Shot Line is a digital memorial and political tool that uses AI to resurrect the voices of individuals killed by gun violence, enabling them to speak directly to lawmakers. Created through a collaboration between the gun control advocacy groups Change the Ref, founded by the parents of Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the Parkland shooting, and March For Our Lives, the project turns digital storytelling into political confrontation.
The site’s interface is minimal and intentionally focused. Visitors are greeted by the recreated voice of Joaquin Oliver, delivering a chilling, posthumous message calling for gun reform. Below the video, users can enter their zip code to send the same message to their congressional representatives. The structure is more symbolic than archival, less about browsing and more about impact.
Unlike traditional digital archives, The Shot Line doesn’t categorize stories or display data visually. There are no filters by location or type of violence, no timeline of events, and no space to submit personal stories. Instead, the site hinges on one voice, one message, and one call to action
Digital Tools Used:
- AI voice generation technology
- Web-based interactive interface for user engagement
Languages:
- English
Review
The Shot Line stands at the intersection of digital storytelling, artificial intelligence, and civic action. It reframes memorialization as a tool for political pressure, resurrecting the silenced voices of gun violence victims to speak directly to lawmakers. What makes this project especially potent is its collaborative foundation—engineers, activists, families of victims, and advocacy groups have co-created a system that blends technical innovation with deep emotional resonance.
Rather than present a comprehensive or archival narrative, the site chooses a singular, targeted approach. Each visitor hears the voice of Joaquin Oliver, recreated using AI, delivering a posthumous message that becomes a direct call to action. The emotional intensity of this experience is amplified by its simplicity: listen, enter your zip code, and send the message. The Shot Line also draws power from its integration of real-time data from the Gun Violence Archive, giving weight and urgency to the narrative without overwhelming users with statistics. This balance between data and personal testimony makes the project both credible and deeply human.
What distinguishes the project even further is its emphasis on user empowerment. The interactive “send-a-call” feature transforms passive witnessing into immediate civic engagement. It’s advocacy made accessible.
Still, there’s room to expand. The addition of an interactive map showing the locations of shootings tied to legislative districts could deepen the project’s political dimension. Real-time updates on related policy efforts would help users see the impact of their engagement. Further collaboration with digital cartographers, educators, and AI ethicists could also enrich both the technological and ethical framework of the site.
How are the collaborative aspects reflected in the project and are there elements that work particularly well?
The collaborative nature of The Shot Line is evident in both its structure and purpose. From a technical standpoint, the integration of AI-generated voices with real human testimonies represents a seamless partnership between developers and communities directly impacted by gun violence. Families of victims, digital activists, and engineers came together to create a tool that goes beyond commemoration, it actively demands change.
The partnership with Change the Ref and March For Our Lives is central to this collaboration, combining the emotional power of storytelling with the strategic know-how of grassroots political organizing. These partnerships are crucial in extending the project's reach and mobilizing collective action. The integration of data from the Gun Violence Archive further strengthens the project by grounding it in credible, updated statistics.
One of the most effective elements is the call-to-action button that allows users to send AI-generated calls to Congress. This is not only a technical achievement but also a brilliant example of collaborative design that bridges user engagement with civic responsibility. It empowers users to join a larger movement without needing prior experience in advocacy or tech.
Do you see an opportunity for collaboration that would be helpful to the project?
Absolutely. Expanding The Shot Line through partnerships with advocacy groups, educators, and international organizations could broaden its impact. Collaborations with schools and universities could integrate the project into curricula focused on civics, ethics, or digital humanities, encouraging student participation and awareness.
In terms of technology, partnering with data visualization experts or digital cartographers could lead to the development of a national map that tracks gun violence patterns alongside legislation. Working with sound designers or voice technologists could also deepen the emotional realism of the AI-generated voices, creating a more immersive user experience.
Ultimately, The Shot Line stands out as a deeply collaborative digital memory and advocacy project. It combines the emotional gravity of personal stories with the immediacy of political engagement. By doing so, it sets a powerful precedent for how public humanities projects can intersect with activism and artificial intelligence to drive social change.