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

29 Apr 2019

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

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urges states to adopt "smart mix" of measures to regulate new technologies to address human rights impacts

"'Smart mix' of measures needed to regulate new technologies - Bachelet," 24 April 2019

[T]he UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has urged States to adopt a "smart mix of measures to regulate new technologies," and announced plans to launch a project to help technology companies incorporate established international human rights principles into workable company practices... "We cannot afford to underestimate the urgency of finding solutions to some of the unforeseen and possibly overwhelming threats to human rights that are emerging as a result of technological advances," she said.

... During her visit to the Silicon Valley area..., the UN Human Rights Chief engaged with top executives from major tech companies including Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Salesforce... [She said] "the UN's human rights framework has already been endorsed across the globe and can help mitigate the impact of new technologies on human rights, while on the other hand ethics vary significantly across different countries and cultures, and can more easily be misused or ignored. Leaving individual companies on their own to develop rules and self-regulate, means placing too much power in the hands of such companies and will inevitably lead to a fragmentation of approaches where industry-wide regulation is needed... The onus is on both technology businesses and governments – and also civil society – to work together to identify effective and equitable policies."