Professor Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden, Director of the Landecker Digital Memory Lab at the University of Sussex, highlighted the increasingly diverse and dispersed nature of Holocaust memory-making in the digital age. As the number of surviving witnesses declines, educators, researchers, and designers are leveraging emerging technologies to preserve memory, foster empathy, and engage younger generations through interactive games and immersive virtual spaces that allow users to experience history rather than simply observe it.
The discussion around technology in Holocaust remembrance has shifted from whether it should be used to how it can be applied thoughtfully to ensure memory endures. These modern tools raise complex questions about interactivity, responsibility, and historical accuracy, challenging memory institutions to adapt in ways that maintain authenticity while embracing innovation.
Video games, once considered a taboo medium for Holocaust representation, are now becoming mainstream, with research-driven approaches guiding their development. Game designer Luc Bernard, for example, created The Light in the Darkness, which follows a Jewish family in Nazi-occupied France and presents the unvarnished realities of the Holocaust. Bernard emphasized that video games allow audiences to connect with characters and stories on a deeper level than traditional films, reaching global players, including those in countries like Saudi Arabia, and demonstrating the power of interactive storytelling.
The rapid expansion of digital memory requires a fundamental rethinking of how Holocaust history is produced and preserved. Richardson-Walden stressed the importance of collaboration among educators, policymakers, technology companies, and memory institutions to ensure resources are used effectively and that digital projects remain resilient over time. Short-term initiatives, such as apps and virtual exhibitions, often become obsolete quickly, resulting in the loss of digitized materials, metadata, and knowledge if not managed sustainably.
Investing in shared digital infrastructure is critical to maintaining the integrity of Holocaust memory. Common standards, aligned databases, and institutional expertise would allow memory organizations to adapt to emerging technologies like gaming, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. Concerns about interactivity are often misunderstood; while users may feel they can alter historical events in games, Richardson-Walden clarified that the narrative itself cannot be changed, preserving historical truth.
The rise of generative AI presents additional challenges. Holocaust-related content circulates widely online, making it susceptible to monetization without proper historical context or ethical oversight. Richardson-Walden cautioned that policy discussions and memory initiatives must keep pace with technological developments to remain relevant and effective.
Both Bernard and Richardson-Walden emphasized that responsibility for digital Holocaust memory extends beyond individual creators. Technology companies, funders, governments, educators, and creatives must work together to develop ethical, sustainable approaches. Discussions that were once confined to niche spaces are now taking place in international forums, including the United Nations, highlighting the growing role of coordinated action in preserving Holocaust memory in the digital era.
