ABOUT
Welcome to the United Nations Hub for Human Rights and Digital Technology. As our world becomes ever-more digital, there is a greater need for our rights to be respected both online and offline. The UN has been considering how our valuable human rights protections apply in the digital space. You can find the full scope of key texts, including standards, analysis, and recommendations emerging from the United Nations human rights mechanisms, on this site.
"Together, as we seek to recover from the pandemic, we must learn to better curtail harmful use of digital technology and to better unleash its power as a democratizing force and an enabler."
UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
BROWSE BY THEME
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Use the search bar below to find materials on specific issues. You may also explore different themes by clicking on the boxes below. New materials will be added regularly.
SDGs - Digital divide; Discrimination and equality;
Special Rapporteurs
Technologies and older persons with disabilities
Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities - 2019 - Report presented to the 74th session of the UNGA in 2019 on the situation of older persons with disabilities, discussing, among other things, assistive devices and technologies and e-governance as well as e-services through information communications technology in this context
2019
SDGs - Digital divide
Special Rapporteurs
Digital technology and the right to a healthy environment
Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment - 2019 - Report presented to the 40th session of the HRC in 2019 on the right to a healthy environment and air pollution, referring to, among other things, new technologies that offer the possibility of leapfrogging expensive air quality monitoring stations and other clean technologies
2019
Civic space and content governance ; Privacy, surveillance, data
Special Rapporteurs
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, Report presented to the 41st session of the HRC in 2019 on the private surveillance technologies and human rights, especially the right to freedom of opinion and expression
2019
Business - Private Sector
Special Procedures
Technology and corporate respect for human rights
Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises 2019 | Report presented to the 41st session of the HRC in 2019 on the 7th annual Forum on Business and Human Rights, which includes a chapter on technology and corporate respect for human rights
2019
Civic space and content governance
Special Rapporteurs
Internet and human rights
Report presented to the 74th session of the UNGA in 2019 on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, discussing, among other things, the Internet and human rights, including the Internet shutdown, and the regulation of online expression, including concern over drafting of an anti-hate speech law and noting that automation plays a role but human moderators will still be necessary, and recommending that the established principles of international human rights law must be adopted by Internet companies with operations in Myanmar as the basis of policies and processes for content regulation.
2019
Privacy, surveillance, data; Discrimination and equality
Special Rapporteurs
Privacy in the context of security and surveillance, from a gender perspective
Report presented to the 40th session of the HRC in 2019 on privacy in the context of security and surveillance, from a gender perspective, and in relation to health data. In addition, the Taskforce on Health Data identified a range of issues, such as 'Smart' implanted health devices devices/prostheses that transmit ongoing real life data back to companies and others, which positions the 'body as data' and subject to use in legal proceedings, and artificial intelligence/machine learning and automatic processing, that will be explored in consultations during 2019
2019
Privacy, surveillance, data
Special Rapporteurs
Protection and use of health-related data
Report presented to the 74th session of the UNGA in 2019 on the protection and use of health-related data, examining, among other things, that artificial intelligence, algorithmic transparency, and big data, recommending that medical algorithms should be regulated transparently, fairly and predictably; that all algorithms and artificial intelligence should facilitate monitoring for adverse effects, including characteristics protected under applicable laws and United Nations conventions; and that processes and systems must be designed and implemented to identify and address algorithmic bias
2019