UNGA76 Side Event - Private Sector Responsibilities to Promote Human Dignity Online
Channel: Access Now
Date: 23/09/2021

In their role affirming human rights and the rule of law, states often struggle to adapt and transform to the speed and scale of new technologies developed – and largely owned and operated – by the private sector. New and emerging technologies can infringe the right to privacy, as increased data collection, combined with the ability to process and store vast quantities of data, facilitates the ability to monitor people’s movements over years and even lifetimes. While there may be legitimate, targeted uses for this type of information, the overall chilling effect on people’s exercise of their freedoms of expression, movement, association, and assembly levies a disproportionate impact on any potential benefits. This is particularly true of marginalized groups, for whom impacts often exacerbating issues of gender inequality and racial discrimination.

On September 22, 2021, this discussion took place ahead of the Tech for Democracy conference at the U.N. City in Copenhagen and virtually on 18 November 2021, which seeks to power up a multi-stakeholder push for protecting and promoting democracy and human rights in an era of rapid technological development.

Speakers include:
- Zach Lampell, Senior Legal Advisor, ICNL 
- Peter Micek, General Counsel and UN Policy Manager, Access Now
- H.E. Choi Jongmoon, Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea *via pre-recorded video
- Jeppe Kofod, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
- Eamon Gilmore, The EU Special Representative for Human Rights
- Isedua Oribhabor, Business and Human Rights Lead, Access Now
- Bruna Martins dos Santos, Digital Rights Activist, member of the Coalizão direitos na Rede and co-coordinator of the Internet Governance Caucus
- Anita Ramasastry, Member of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights
- Steve Crown, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Human Rights, Microsoft
- Peggy Hicks, Director Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and the Right to Development Division, UN Human Rights