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
NEW SEARCH
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.
Privacy, surveillance, data
Special Rapporteurs
Protecting against gender-based privacy infringements
Report presented to the 43rd session of the HRC in 2020 on protecting against gender-based privacy infringements, noting that privacy infringements happen in multiple, interrelated and recurring forms facilitated by digital technologies, in both private and public settings across physical and national boundaries. Online privacy infringements, reflect and extend offline privacy infringements. Digital technologies amplify their scope and intensify their impact
2020
Civic space and content governance
Special Rapporteurs
Protecting civic space worldwide
Report presented to the 44th session of the HRC in 2020 reflecting on ten years protecting civic space worldwide, affirming that technological advances such as facial recognition, artificial intelligence, hacking tools and digital identification, are posing complex challenges to association and assembly rights. Governments are increasingly cutting off access to the Internet and mobile networks to stifle mass demonstrations and silent dissident voices during elections. For many in civil society, the Internet is no longer a safe place, as they have become the growing targets of surveillance and online violence. The slow progress in addressing these challenges points to the urgent need to move beyond commitments to action and accountability.
2020
Security � Counter-Terrorism
Special Rapporteurs
Issue of targeted killings through armed drones
Report presented to the 44th session of the HRC in 2020 addressing the issue of targeted killings through armed drones, particularly in light of the proliferation in the use of drones and their expanding capability over the last five years and makes recommendations designed to regulate their use and enhance accountability.
2020
Civic space and content governance ; Security � Counter-Terrorism
Special Rapporteurs
Issue of targeted killings through armed drones
Report presented to the 44th session of the HRC in 2020 addressing the issue of targeted killings through armed drones, particularly in light of the proliferation in the use of drones and their expanding capability over the last five years and makes recommendations designed to regulate their use and enhance accountability.
2020