The right to privacy in the digital age
A/RES/79/175
(b) To invite all relevant stakeholders to further discuss how emerging
phenomena, such as the push for widespread adoption of blockchain, expanded and
virtual reality technologies and the development of increasingly powerful
neurotechnology, without proper safeguards, have an impact on the enjoyment of the
right to privacy and the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
(c) To take measures to put an end to violations of the right to privacy and to
create the conditions to prevent such violations, including by ensuring that relevant
national legislation complies with their obligations under international human rights
law;
(d) To review, on a regular basis, their procedures, practices and legislation
regarding the surveillance of communications, their interception and the collection of
personal data, including mass surveillance, interception and collection, as well as
regarding the use of profiling, automated decision-making, machine learning and
biometric technologies, with a view to upholding the right to privacy by ensuring the
full and effective implementation of all their obligations under international human
rights law;
(e) To establish or maintain existing independent, effective, adequately
resourced and impartial judicial, administrative and/or parliamentary domestic
oversight mechanisms capable of ensuring transparency, as appropriate, and
accountability for State surveillance of communications, their interception and the
collection of personal data;
(f) To provide individuals whose right to privacy has been violated by
unlawful or arbitrary surveillance with access to an effective remedy, consistent with
international human rights obligations;
(g) To consider developing or maintaining and implementing adequate
legislation, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including business
enterprises, international organizations and civil society, with effective sanctions and
appropriate remedies, that protects individuals against violations and abuses of the
right to privacy, namely through the unlawful and arbitrary collection, processing,
retention, sharing or use of personal data by individuals, Governments, business
enterprises and private organizations;
(h) To consider developing or maintaining and implementing legislation,
regulations and policies to ensure that all business enterprises, including social media
enterprises and other online platforms, respect the right to privacy and other relevant
human rights in the design, development, deployment and evaluation of technologies,
including artificial intelligence, to take appropriate steps to improve and encourage
corporate accountability, and to provide individuals whose rights may have been
violated or abused with access to an effective remedy, including compensation and
guarantees of non-repetition;
(i) To consider adopting or maintaining data protection legislation, regulation
and policies, including on digital communication data, that comply with their
international human rights obligations, which could include the establishment of
national independent authorities with powers and resources to monitor data privacy
practices, investigate violations and abuses and receive communications from
individuals and organizations, and to provide appropriate remedies;
(j) To further develop or maintain, in this regard, preventive measures and
remedies for violations and abuses of the right to privacy in the digital age that may
affect all individuals, including where there are particular effects for women, as well
as children;
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