U.N. Urges All Countries to Protect Digital Privacy

The United Nations has adopted a resolution on "The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age" that reaffirms the rights and freedoms embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN resolution highlights the risks of mass surveillance and warns that metadata "can reveal personal information and can give an insight into an individual's behavior, social relationships, private preferences and identity." Earlier this year, in a joint submission to the United Nations, the Brennan Center, EPIC, and other public interest organizations urged the Human Rights Council to review U.S. surveillance programs. The letter stated that U.S. "surveillance activities also violate the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and the freedom of peaceful assembly and association..." guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For more information, see EPIC: Council of Europe Privacy Convention and Public Voice - Madrid Declaration.

December 8, 2014| Share: