Today – UN Human Rights Council To Hear Rapporteur’s Report On Government Surveillance Online

The United Nations Human Rights Council today (6 March) is expected to hear a report on government surveillance to be presented by the UN special rapporteur on the right to privacy. The report calls for the urgent development of a comprehensive legal framework on privacy and surveillance in cyberspace.

On the agenda is presentation of a report by the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Joseph Cannataci, addressing the issue of oversight of government surveillance.

“There is no question that the global community needs to undertake urgent action … by developing a clear and comprehensive legal framework on privacy and surveillance in cyberspace, to operationalise the respect of this right, domestically and across borders,” the rapporteur’s report states.

Activities since the rapporteur’s post was created in 2015 include the successful establishment of the International Intelligence Oversight Forum (IIOF), which has brought many stakeholders together led by governments.

Among the future activities of the special rapporteur, Cannataci will:

• present his final report on his official visit to the United States in March 2019, focusing on existing oversight mechanisms in situations where Executive Order 12333 applies. His report on the official visit to France is due March 2019 as announced on the website.
• Presentation of the report on privacy and health data to the General Assembly October 2018.
• Submission of his final proposals and recommendations on Big Data and Open Data following international consultation in mid 2018.

His activities also include innumerable meetings, conferences and other engagements with a full range of stakeholders.

Its final recommendation is that “the Human Rights Council should recommend to the General Assembly that fresh vigour be applied to all UN efforts exploring the intersection of privacy with security and state behaviour in cyberspace in synergy with the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Privacy in a determined attempt to develop a more comprehensive legal framework for the Internet.”