New technologies can have powerful impacts on multiple aspects of the society and influence the promotion and protection of human rights. They enable people to share and communicate ideas that can contribute to advancing the realization of rights and civic freedoms. At the same time, they can pose serious threats when it comes to human rights, especially through unintended potential violations and by aggravating existing inequalities. Pursuant to the adoption by the Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution “New and emerging digital technologies and human rights” (A/HRC/RES/41/11), the HRC Advisory Committee prepared a Study about the above-mentioned positive and negative impacts of new technologies on human rights. The Study highlights existing initiatives by the UN, gaps arising from new technologies and recommendations how to address these.
Our briefer points out the key strengths of the study, but also highlights some fundamental concerns, such as the lack of consideration given to the inclusive dialogue and civil society participation in discussions on this topic.
Click below to read the full briefer: