54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Joint Statement as Delivered by U.S. Ambassador Michèle Taylor

Item 8 General Debate

Thank you, Mr. President.

We deliver this statement on behalf of 59 countries, including the Freedom Online Coalition.

Responsible government use of surveillance technologies should aim to improve safety and security while respecting human rights and the rule of law, including international human rights obligations and commitments.  Responsible users should also work to prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impacts.

The use of technologies associated with surveillance, such as Internet controls, big data analytic tools, AI-driven persistent video surveillance, and intrusive surveillance software, including commercial spyware, should not enhance the capacity to violate or abuse human rights and target human rights defenders, journalists, activists, workers, union leaders, political opposition members, and other perceived critics.  Such tools should not be used in an arbitrary or unlawful manner to infringe privacy, curb dissent, restrict access to information, or limit the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.

We call on governments to take steps to ensure the use of these technologies is lawful and responsible, in accordance with states’ domestic law and international obligations and commitments. Governments should also establish safeguards that apply to the collection, handling, and disclosure of personal information obtained using these technologies to uphold universal human rights and the rule of law. Governments may incorporate principles such as lawfulness, necessity, proportionality, or reasonableness. Governments should foster transparency, oversight, and accountability and mitigate unlawful or unintended bias in their use of these tools.

We encourage governments to work closely with industry, civil society, and other stakeholders to inform approaches, set appropriate standards, and encourage responsible practices in this sector.

I thank you.

Signatories:

1. Albania
2. Argentina
3. Australia
4. Austria
5. Armenia
6. Belgium
7. Bulgaria
8. Cabo Verde
9. Cameroon
10. Canada
11. Chile
12. Colombia
13. Costa Rica
14. Croatia
15. Cyprus
16. Czechia
17. Denmark
18. Ecuador
19. Estonia
20. Finland
21. France
22. Gambia
23. Georgia
24. Germany
25. Ghana
26. Greece
27. Iceland
28. Ireland
29. Israel
30. Italy
31. Japan
32. Kenya
33. Latvia
34. Lithuania
35. Luxembourg
36. Maldives
37. Malta
38. Mexico
39. Moldova
40. Mongolia
41. Montenegro
42. Netherlands
43. New Zealand
44. North Macedonia
45. Norway
46. Poland
47. Portugal
48. Romania
49. Republic of Korea
50. Slovakia
51. Slovenia
52. Spain
53. Sweden
54. Switzerland
55. Tunisia
56. United Kingdom
57. Ukraine
58. Uruguay
59. United States