Call for inputs to a report on "the right to privacy in the digital age (2022)"
Issued by
OHCHR
Published
02 September 2022
Issued by
OHCHR
Published
02 September 2022
Issued by Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Subjects
Civic space, Digital privacy
Symbol Number
A/HRC/51/17
Summary
The report discusses recent trends and challenges concerning the right to privacy. The report focuses, in particular, on: (a) the abuse of intrusive hacking tools; (b) the key role of encryption in ensuring the enjoyment of the right to privacy and other rights; and (c) wide-spread monitoring of public spaces. It highlights the risk of creating systems of pervasive surveillance and control that may undermine the development of vibrant and rights[1]respecting societies. This report focuses on the multifaceted impacts of the steadily growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) on the enjoyment of the right to privacy and associated rights. It stresses the urgent need for a moratorium on the sale and use of AI systems that pose a serious risk to human rights until adequate safeguards are put in place. It also calls for AI applications that cannot be used in compliance with international human rights law to be banned.
On 7 October 2021, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 48/4 on “The right to privacy in the digital age”. Paragraph 11 of the resolution requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights " to prepare a written report identifying recent trends and challenges with regard to the human right to privacy, including those addressed in the present resolution, to identify and clarify related human rights principles, safeguards and best practices, and to present the report to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-first session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue”.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights now invites all relevant stakeholders to provide inputs for the preparation of the thematic report, focusing on the following aspects:
The following list of issues, albeit not meant to be exhaustive, aims to assist interested stakeholders in preparing their submission:
Member States
National Cyber Security Agency
Civil Society Organizations
UN Agencies, International and Regional Organizations
Other Stakeholders