abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

25 Jun 2019

Author:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN expert calls for immediate moratorium on the sale, transfer & use of surveillance tools

See all tags

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye... called for an immediate moratorium on the sale, transfer and use of surveillance technology until human rights-compliant regulatory frameworks are in place... “Surveillance tools can interfere with human rights, from the right to privacy and freedom of expression to rights of association and assembly, religious belief, non-discrimination, and public participation. And yet they are not subject to any effective global or national control,” the Special Rapporteur said. Kaye gave examples of computer intrusions, mobile device hacking, network intrusion, facial recognition surveillance and other highly sophisticated surveillance tools that have been used by States and other actors to monitor journalists, politicians, UN investigators and human rights advocates.

The report urges States to adopt domestic safeguards in accordance with international human rights law to protect individuals from unlawful surveillance. “States are not alone in their responsibilities,” the Special Rapporteur added. “Companies appear to be operating without constraint. It is critical that companies themselves adhere to their human rights responsibilities... Given the current lack of an effective regulatory framework on the use of surveillance technologies to mitigate and remedy the harms they can cause, Kaye added, “it is imperative that States limit the uses of such technologies to lawful ones only, subjected to the strictest sorts of oversight and authorisation, and that States condition export of such technologies on the strictest human rights due diligence”.