UN to appoint Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy News
UN to appoint Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy

[JURIST] The United Nations Human Rights Council [official website] on Thursday adopted [press release] four new resolutions, one of which creates [text] a special rapporteur on the right to privacy in the digital age. Decided without a vote, the council reaffirmed the standing right to be free from unlawful or arbitrary interferences to privacy, and set to appoint a special rapporteur in June to monitor potential infractions, for a three year term. Although the right to privacy is enumerated in both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [text, Article 12] and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [text, Article 17], it has been largely ignored at the international level. Coming in the wake of disclosures [Guardian report] regarding privacy infringement perpetrated by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) [official websites], there was some concern that the US or UK may try to block or significantly alter the language of the measure. However, the measure, which was backed by Germany and Brazil, passed without opposition. Regarding the new resolution, the US noted that it does not block all interference with privacy, but only that done arbitrarily.

Privacy has become a matter of increasing concern around the world in recent years, as many governments have sought to bolster data-retention programs in an attempt to more effectively monitor terrorism and other illegal activities. Earlier this month, 92 non-governmental organizations called for [JURIST report] the establishment of the Special Rapporteur on privacy. Also this month the District Court of the Hague struck down [JURIST report] a Dutch data retention law, holding that it violates privacy rights of EU citizens. In July former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed concern [JURIST report] over the widespread lack of transparency in governmental digital surveillance practices. Also in July civil liberties groups sued [JURIST report] the UK Secret Intelligence Service, alleging that the agency unlawfully accesses private data from undersea cables. In April the European Court of Justice struck down [JURIST report] an EU-wide law that stipulates how private data must be collected and stored.