Governments and non-governmental actors have increasingly used digital surveillance technologies to undermine human rights. Examples from around the world have illuminated the use of such tools to target journalists, human rights activists and organizations, and others in civil society. These tools are often, though not exclusively, developed, marketed, and deployed by private surveillance companies, seemingly without legal constraint affecting their transfer across borders.

... [T]he Special Rapporteur will study State and business responsibilities to limit the export and use of surveillance technologies to undermine fundamental rights. His findings and recommendations on the subject will be published in his next report to the General Assembly in October 2019... The Special Rapporteur is interested in collecting information concerning State and business responsibilities to limit the export and use of surveillance technologies to undermine fundamental rights. Please send submissions, not exceeding 2500 words, no later than 15 February 2019 to [email protected] using the email title: “Submission for surveillance study.” Those wishing to file securely may submit to [email protected] (fingerprint: 5C85 1D96 D604 8BE0 F983 A0DF 14CA 643A 9603 79DD).