A/HRC/RES/47/23 human rights in national, regional and international regulatory frameworks and legislation and on the conception, design, use, development, further deployment and impact assessments of new and emerging digital technologies, while ensuring the meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, academia and civil society, Welcoming the work of the Advisory Committee, and taking note of its report on the possible impacts, opportunities and challenges of new and emerging digital technologies with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights, presented to the Human Rights Council at the present session,1 Recognizing that new and emerging digital technologies can have the potential to facilitate efforts to accelerate human progress, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to bridge digital divides, to support, inter alia, the enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities and those in vulnerable situations, the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and to ensure that no one is left behind in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Recognizing also the risks that new and emerging digital technologies may have for the protection, promotion and enjoyment of human rights, including but not limited to the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, the right to an effective remedy and the right to privacy, in accordance with States’ obligations under international human rights law, Recognizing further that new and emerging digital technologies can hold great potential for strengthening democratic institutions and the resilience of civil society, empowering civic engagement and enabling the work of human rights defenders, public participation and the open and free exchange of ideas, Recognizing that new and emerging digital technologies, in particular assistive technologies, can especially contribute to the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities, and that these technologies should be designed in consultation with them and with appropriate safeguards to protect their rights, Mindful that the impacts, opportunities and challenges of rapid technological change with regard to the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights, including in cases where changes may occur at an exponential pace, are not fully understood, and of the need to further analyse them in a holistic, inclusive and comprehensive manner in order to leverage the full potential of new and emerging digital technologies to support human progress and development for all, Recognizing that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has demonstrated the increased need to harness the positive potential of new and emerging digital technologies and to address the key challenges involved, including the impacts of COVID-19 response measures, such as Internet shutdowns, censorship, and unlawful and arbitrary surveillance not in accordance with States’ obligations under international human rights law and inconsistent with the principles of necessity, proportionality and legality, Recognizing also, in the context of new and emerging digital technologies, the need to address, in a manner that complies with States’ obligations under international human rights law, the spread of disinformation, which can be designed to incite to violence, hatred, discrimination and hostility, inter alia, racism, xenophobia, negative stereotyping and stigmatization, Highlighting the importance of a human rights-based approach to new and emerging digital technologies taking into account States’ obligations under international human rights law, a holistic understanding of technology and holistic governance and regulatory efforts, Recognizing the important role of new and emerging digital technologies for an inclusive and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including by supporting States’ efforts to protect public health, promote inclusive education and bridge digital divides, with particular attention to, inter alia, women and girls, persons with disabilities and those in 1 2 A/HRC/47/52.