"Human Rights Council holds panel discussion on the right to privacy in the digital age", 12 Sep 2014

Flavia Pansieri, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, in an opening statement said...digital platforms were vulnerable to surveillance, interception and data collection and deep concerns had been expressed as policies and practices that exploited this vulnerability had been exposed around the globe.The panelists were Marko Milanovic, Associate Professor, Nottingham University and Panel Moderator; Catalina Botero Marino, Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; Sarah Cleveland, Professor, Columbia Law School; Yves Nissim, Deputy Chief CSR officer at Orange, former Chair of the Telecommunications Industry Dialogue; Carly Nyst, Legal Director, Privacy International...In the discussion that followed, speakers noted that the digital revolution brought liberation, but also new challenges.  Alongside the wonderful opportunities for communication, knowledge and business, came new forms of abuse and crime, and alongside the explosion of access to knowledge came new questions about data storage, privacy and access to information.  The importance of ensuring that any State surveillance of citizens was proportionate and fair, respected international law and conventions, and was governed by the rule of law with oversight by civil authorities, was emphasized.  There was a need for the review of procedures, practices and legislation with regard to digital communications in order to ensure that the right to privacy was protected.