Providing greater ease of communication across borders and virtual spaces in which to mobilize and organize, digital technology represents a valuable tool for human rights activism and movement building beyond the reach of the state. For states, adapting to such rapid technology-driven change has meant transitioning from traditional modes of maintaining order and promoting national interests. This shift in statecraft, represented by the adoption of cyber technologies into the realms of communication, information, economic, and other activities, can in turn have significant impacts on human rights. This article provides an overview of a variety of new challenges that cyber statecraft presents to human rights. One is in the trend among states to assert sovereignty over their digital territory, which can threaten the right to free speech and free assembly. Another is in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in surveillance, policing, and criminal justice, which poses potential threats to the right to privacy as well as the right to due process. The adoption of digital technologies in border enforcement also can have negative impacts on the right to seek asylum and the right to freedom of movement, while the digitalization of economic development policies can undermine economic self-determination and threaten livelihood systems that ensure the right to food, health, and environment.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Cyber Statecraft and Its Challenge to Human Rights

  • Grace Cheng

摘要

Providing greater ease of communication across borders and virtual spaces in which to mobilize and organize, digital technology represents a valuable tool for human rights activism and movement building beyond the reach of the state. For states, adapting to such rapid technology-driven change has meant transitioning from traditional modes of maintaining order and promoting national interests. This shift in statecraft, represented by the adoption of cyber technologies into the realms of communication, information, economic, and other activities, can in turn have significant impacts on human rights. This article provides an overview of a variety of new challenges that cyber statecraft presents to human rights. One is in the trend among states to assert sovereignty over their digital territory, which can threaten the right to free speech and free assembly. Another is in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in surveillance, policing, and criminal justice, which poses potential threats to the right to privacy as well as the right to due process. The adoption of digital technologies in border enforcement also can have negative impacts on the right to seek asylum and the right to freedom of movement, while the digitalization of economic development policies can undermine economic self-determination and threaten livelihood systems that ensure the right to food, health, and environment.