OHCHR and privacy in the digital age

About digital privacy and human rights

Digital technologies do not exist in a vacuum. They can be a powerful tool for advancing human progress and contribute greatly to the promotion and protection of human rights.

However, data-intensive technologies, such as artificial intelligence applications, contribute to creating a digital environment in which both States and business enterprises are increasingly able to track, analyze, predict and even manipulate people’s behavior to an unprecedented degree. These technological developments carry very significant risks for human dignity, autonomy and privacy and the exercise of human rights in general, if applied without effective safeguards.

OHCHR’s work on privacy in the digital age

OHCHR has organized expert consultations and published reports to explore the challenges that the right to privacy and other human rights face in the digital age, as requested by relevant resolutions by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

Calls for Input

Call for inputs on the solutions to promote digital education for young people and to ensure their protection from online threats

Deadline:

02 February 2024

Manpreet Testing OH 5752-3

Deadline:

02 February 2024

Call for inputs: “The relationship between human rights and technical standard-setting processes for new and emerging digital technologies (2023)” - Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Closed - see submissions

See all

Latest reports

A/HRC/51/17

The right to privacy in the digital age (2022)

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.

A/HRC/48/31

The right to privacy in the digital age (2021)

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.

A/HRC/44/24

The impact of new technologies on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of assemblies, including peaceful protests (2020)

Among other aspects, this report discusses the human rights impacts of various surveillance practices and calls for a moratorium on the use of facial recognition technology in the context of peaceful assemblies.

A/HRC/39/29

The right to privacy in the digital age (2018)

This report explores how to address some of the pressing challenges that the right to privacy faces in the digital age, highlights the most significant current trends, and covers the obligations of States and business enterprises, safeguards and oversight. The report identifies key elements for data privacy frameworks that should be adopted by States and business enterprises.