Tag: Regulation

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms While Countering Terrorism, Ben Emmerson, released a report on October 15 critiquing mass surveillance of digital communications. Examining surveillance through the lens of state obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Special Rapporteur’s report takes issue with the lack of authorizing surveillance legislation, the failure to respect the human rights of those located outside national boundaries, and the need for surveillance to be governed by principles of proportionality, necessity, oversight, judicial authorization, and transparency.

The UK has failed to protect its citizens’ fundamental rights to privacy and secure communications.

The Obama Administration announced on Wednesday, Sept. 24 that it would review and account for the human rights impacts of U.S. businesses.

Access, joined by members of Congress, former government officials, and dozens of civil society groups and private companies, has urged the Obama Administration to reform surveillance practices under Executive Order 12333, which authorizes mass surveillance by NSA and other intelligence agencies with no meaningful limits.

This month, the European Commission responded to a letter sent on behalf of 21 digital rights organisations – including Access, Foundation for Information Policy Research (FIPR), EDRi, Initiative für Netzfreiheit, AKVorrat, and EFF – outlining several violations of E.U. law in the passage of the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIP) in the United Kingdom.

Without much media attention, the heads of state of the African Union (AU) agreed to a landmark convention this summer affecting many aspects of digital life.

One step closer: USA FREEDOM Act moves US toward greater compliance with human rights law

In response to stories in the New York Times, ProPublica, and the Guardian that the National Security Agency (“NSA”) was undermining encryption standards, The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) released a report that called for increased transparency and internal expertise at the National Institute for Standards and Technologies (“NIST”). The VCAT reviews and makes recommendations regarding general policy for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The VCAT formed a Committee of Visitors (“COV”) in mid-April to review the relationship between NIST and the NSA.

The U.S. cannot so easily ignore its responsibilities under international law and norms, or turn a blind eye to the activities of its corporations abroad.

Access received a response from the European Commission acknowledging a notification of infringement sent two weeks ago in a letter to Michel Barnier, Commissioner in charge for Enterprise and Industry. The complaint addresses the United Kingdom’s breach of E.U. law through its adoption of the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers (DRIP) on 18 July 2014.