In Geneva, speakers have pointed out that the rapid advancement of digital technologies has led to considerable human rights challenges and highlighted the necessity for improved legal safeguards to maintain these essential freedoms. The speakers at a sideline event during the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council stressed the critical need to protect fundamental freedoms.

The event brought together scholars, legal experts, and representatives from human rights advocacy organizations, including Advocate Parvez Ahmed Shah, APHC-AJK  General Secretary, Zaffar Ahmed Qureshi and Dr Shugafta Ashraf. Whereas the event was moderated by Dr Muzamil Ayub Thakur, President, World Kashmir Freedom Movement. To protect fundamental freedoms in the digital space, the speakers called for adoption of inclusive policies,  development and implementation of laws that are consistent with international human rights law.

To ensure robust protections against unwarranted intrusions on essential freedoms, the speakers emphasized on the responsibilities of states to maintain privacy rights in the face of increasing surveillance and data misuse, citing the UN General Assembly resolution on the Right to Privacy in the Digital Age. Referring to Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), they said the article stresses the need to safeguard individuals from arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy, family, home, or correspondence.

Highlighting tech companies' legal obligations in safeguarding human rights, they asserted that international legal frameworks, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, were crucial for enhancing regulatory systems. "This is essential not only for addressing digital authoritarianism but also for promoting a rights-centered approach to new technologies", they further said.

Citing Kashmir as an example, the speakers said, "Digital siege of Kashmir following the abrogation of article 370 starkly illustrates how the Indian government leveraged technology firms to stifle digital dissent." Similarly, the implementation of the Kashmir Media Policy, they identified as one of the stringent actions that accentuated restrictions on press freedom. Kashmir's internet siege, they said, was an atrocious assault on digital rights of the Kashmiri people. 

"Digital repression, including internet blackouts, censorship, monitoring, and harassment were used as tools to stifle dissent and regulate information in Kashmir", they added. Referring to cases of social media profiling in Kashmir, they said the occupation authorities used the insidious practice of phone tracking,  recording interactions of people or groups on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)