UN to consider Internet privacy resolution



Germany and Brazil have called on the United Nations to adopt a resolution about online privacy, reports the Associated Press.

According to Associated Press, the draft resolution states that countries must protect the right to privacy as guaranteed under international law. It aims at expanding the protection guaranteed in a key global human rights treaty, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to electronic communications and privacy. It “affirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular the right to privacy.”

Today, there seem to be hardly any technical limitations for accessing, storing or combining personal data. But should everything that is technical feasible also be allowed? Where do we draw the line between legitimate security concerns and the individual right to privacy? And how do we ensure that human rights are effectively protected both offline and online?” German Ambassador Peter Witting asked, while introducing the jointly sponsored German-Brazilian resolution to the General Assembly committee that deals with human rights.

The resolution is likely to be voted on at the end of this month. Such resolutions to the General Assembly are not legally binding.