BSR Insight | Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age
About the Author(s)
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Publication Date
February 14, 2011
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Today, BSR published "Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age," a new report describing the freedom of expression and privacy risks faced by information and communications technology (ICT) companies, and how these risks can be more effectively mitigated by the industry.
The key theme of the report—a valuable resource for any ICT company undertaking human rights due diligence, especially in light of the recent recommendations from the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Business and Human Rights—is the relationship among human rights, ICT companies, law enforcement agencies, and national security concerns. There are legitimate reasons why companies may restrict the free flow of information or allow access to personal information, but at the same time, there is the risk that law enforcement agencies will make demands of the private sector to undertake invasive privacy or freedom of expression activities that infringe on human rights.
The report concludes that the entire ICT value chain and its stakeholders (governments, human rights groups, and academics) need to explore how human rights can be protected in the context of today’s law enforcement and national security activities.
This report was commissioned by the Global Network Initiative.
For more information on human rights and ICT, contact Dunstan Allison Hope.
About the Author(s)
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Dunstan works with a diverse range of companies—including those in the information and communications technology (ICT), consumer products, and heavy manufacturing sectors—on corporate responsibility issues such as human rights, reporting, sustainability strategy, and stakeholder engagement... Read more →
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