A solution was needed and, in 2000, a group of industry participants, government officials and observers met in Kimberley, South Africa. A new generation of smugglers are using social media and encrypted apps to undermine the 2003 United Nations - backed Kimberley Process , designed to prevent “ blood diamonds ” , which are mined in conflict zones and used to fund violence , from entering the mainstream market . They claimed that the Process ’s definition of conflict diamonds is no longer adequate . Last December , the NGO Impact joined the Process , replacing founding member Global Witness , which quit in 2010 . Some campaigners argue that technology could improve certification and De Beers , the international diamond corporation , is considering using technology to track the gems .
A new generation of smugglers are using social media and encrypted apps to undermine the 2003 United Nations - backed Kimberley Process , designed to prevent “ blood diamonds ” , which are mined in conflict zones and used to fund violence , from entering the mainstream market . They claimed that the Process ’s definition of conflict diamonds is no longer adequate . Last December , the NGO Impact joined the Process , replacing founding member Global Witness , which quit in 2010 . Some campaigners argue that technology could improve certification and De Beers , the international diamond corporation , is considering using technology to track the gems .