Private Sector fails to protect online freedom of expression, UN report finds - Internet Sans Frontières
As digital access is growing, slowly but surely, worldwide, Human rights online have never been so much at risk. In the week of May 29 to June 2, 2017 only, Internet Without Borders reported a new Internet shutdown in Ethiopia, website blocking (fr) in Egypt, whatsapp users arrested in Senegal (fr) for sharing a caricature of the president, and Rwanda threatening to force presidential candidates to have their social media posts reviewed by the Electoral commission (fortunately, the idea was finally abandonned). This list is not exhaustive.
It is in this context that the UN’s special Rapporteur on Freedom of expression, David. A. Kaye, published his annual report to the Human Rights Council, after over a year of consultations, and submissions, including one by Internet Without Borders, which you can download heredownload here)
This year, the Special Rapporteur focuses on private sector actors, specifically digital access providers, and their role in the protection of online freedom of expression. In fact, most of the attacks against online freedom of expression are perpetrated by State actors, in violation of their international commitments; But digital access providers also have a responsibility in the low level of protection of this freedom, despite the good practices outlined in the UN Guiding principles on Business and Human Rights.
From Internet shutdowns and Net neutrality, to content filtering, the report reviews how Governments and private sector can harm, willingly or not, online freedom of expression of citizens and users, and makes recommendations on how the Human Rights Council can take action to strengthen its protection: recommendations include a better understanding of the intersections between the role of digital access providers and governments in the digital industry, notably by promoting the adoption of national plans on Business and Human Rights.
Internet Without Borders will discuss findings of this report at a side event organized by Access Now and Article 19 in Geneva, during the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) :
“Digital access, shutdowns, and surveillance”
June 14th, 2017 – 12 pm to 1:30 pm
Room XXIV, Palais des Nations
Full details on this side event available here.