Joint Statement Presented at HRC 54 on the Heightened Risks Associated with Surveillance Technologies and the Importance of Safeguards in the Use of these Tools

The following joint statement was read by the delegation of the United States, during the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council on 4 October 2023. 

Thank you, Mr. President.

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