The Freedom Online Coalition is concerned that the use of surveillance technology and related services can contribute to violations of the right to privacy, as set forth in the ICCPR (henceforth, “right to privacy”), through unlawful and arbitrary surveillance, interception of communications, and data collection, particularly in relation to its use for political repression. Such surveillance in contravention to states’ obligations under international human rights law infringes on the right to privacy and can lead also to other violations or abuses of human rights both online and offline including the rights to freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
