Promotion and protection of human rights
in the context of digital technologies
A/RES/80/215
for strong encryption, pseudonymization and anonymity, are important to ensure the
enjoyment of human rights, in particular the rights to privacy, to freedom of opinion
and expression and to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and recognizing
that Member States should promote such measures and refrain from employing
unlawful or arbitrary surveillance techniques, which may include forms of hacking,
Noting with deep concern the use of technological tools developed by the private
surveillance industry and by private or public actors to undertake surveillance,
hacking of devices and systems, interception and disruption of communications, and
data collection, interfering with the professional and private lives of individuals,
including those engaged in the promotion and defence of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, journalists and other media workers, in violation or abuse of
their human rights,
Stressing that, in times when physical assemblies are restricted, measures should
be taken to ensure that access to the Internet and online information and ideas of all
kinds extends to everyone, and that all restrictions are in line with international law,
including with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and
non‑discrimination,
Unequivocally condemning the use of blanket Internet shutdowns and unlawful
restrictions to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to, or the dissemination of,
information online, and stressing the importance of a free, open, interoperable,
reliable and secure Internet,
Noting that the use of algorithmic or automated decision -making processes can
negatively affect the enjoyment of human rights, including by perpetuating
stereotypes or by resulting in discrimination, in particular when the data used for the
training of algorithms are non‑representative, inaccurate or irrelevant,
Noting also that the use of data collection, data extraction and algorithms to
target content towards online users may undermine user agency and access to
information online, and noting further that the collection, processing, use, storage and
sharing of personal data, including for reuse, sale or multiple resale, risks infringing
on the user’s human rights,
Noting further that the use of artificial intelligence can contribute to the
promotion and protection of human rights, can play a significant role as an enabler of
sustainable development and has the potential to transform Governments and
societies, economic sectors and the world of work, and in this regard welcoming the
establishment of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial
Intelligence and the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance,
Noting with concern that artificial intelligence or machine-learning
technologies, without human rights safeguards, as well as proper technical,
regulatory, legal and ethical safeguards, and without adequate and effective evaluation
and feedback mechanisms, may pose the risk of reinforcing systemic, racial and
gender-based discrimination and can lead to decisions that have the potential to affect
the enjoyment of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, and
affect non‑discrimination, and recognizing the need to prevent racial and otherwise
discriminatory outcomes and apply international human rights law and data protection frameworks in all stages of the life cycle of these technologies and
practices,
Recognizing that persons in vulnerable situations, including children, may be
particularly exposed to online risks and violence, including cyberbullying,
cyberstalking, child exploitation and abuse and other forms of technology -facilitated
violence, which can disproportionately affect girls, and that there is a need to take
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