The NGO Amnesty International is asking the United Nations for a moratorium on so-called cyber-surveillance technologies, which it considers to be discreet, invasive and dangerous for human rights.
Amnesty International calls for spyware regulation. Following the Project Pegasus scandal revealed to the general public in the summer of 2021, the human rights NGO regrets that the surveillance technology sector is not yet subject to real regulation. On this issue, she asks the United Nations for a global moratorium.
A petition of 100,000 signatures to support the debate around targeted surveillance technologies
This is under the 77e United Nations General Assembly, which took place at the end of September, that Amnesty International submitted a global petition to member states with 100,000 signatures. Like the NGO, the signatories consider targeted digital surveillance technologies to be a real threat to the right to privacy.
This is good, since the United Nations has opened the debate on the right to privacy in the digital age. The teams of the international organization for the defense of human rights are currently in New York to carry out their mission and have a resolution adopted which could push for a regulation of technologies right now.
Chance does things well, since the New York branch of Amnesty International is located just opposite the imposing building of the United Nations, on the banks of the East River.
Amnesty International calls for the temporary suspension of these technologies
In New York, Amnesty International calls for a global moratorium on the use, sale and transfer of these technologies until an appropriate human rights regulatory framework is in place “. The purpose of the moratorium is therefore to temporarily suspend these activities, which also includes the export of surveillance technologies.
The NGO supports its request with the support provided by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, but also by experts from the United Nations and various organizations of civil society. ” It is extremely dangerous and irresponsible to allow the surveillance technology and commerce industry to operate as a no-go zone. “, agree to say the specialists.
France has largely contributed to giving depth to the petition, since among the 100,000 people supporting the request for a moratorium, 70,000 are French. ” The subject of cyber surveillance concerns us all. If nothing is done, the abuses will continue. Once our messages have been sent to the United Nations, concrete and ambitious actions will have to be implemented. Our rights are at stake “says Amnesty International.
For the moment, there are few Western initiatives taken for a strict regulation of spyware. The United States had nevertheless, since last November, placed NSO Group, publisher of Pegasus, on their blacklist.
Source : Amnesty International
3