The Impact of International Human Rights Law on Digital Privacy in the Era of Mass Surveillance
Keywords:
Digital privacy, human rights law, mass surveillance, international law, cybersecurityAbstract
The rapid advancement of digital technology has led to widespread mass surveillance, raising concerns about the protection of individual privacy. International human rights law plays a crucial role in balancing national security interests with the right to digital privacy. This study examines the impact of international human rights frameworks, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), in safeguarding digital privacy amid increasing government surveillance. Using a qualitative approach, the research analyzes key legal principles, court rulings, and policy responses from different jurisdictions. The findings indicate that while international legal instruments provide a foundation for digital privacy protection, enforcement remains inconsistent due to varying national implementations and technological challenges. The study underscores the need for stronger legal mechanisms and international cooperation to ensure the effective protection of digital privacy rights in the digital age.
Downloads
References
Bennett, C. J., & Raab, C. D. (2020). The governance of privacy: Policy instruments in global perspective. MIT Press.
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). (2020). Schrems II ruling (Case C-311/18). Retrieved from https://curia.europa.eu
De Hert, P., & Gutwirth, S. (2019). Data protection in the case law of Strasbourg and Luxembourg: Constitutionalisation in action. Tilburg Law Review, 24(1), 24-48.
ECtHR. (2016). Szabó and Vissy v. Hungary (Application no. 37138/14). Retrieved from https://hudoc.echr.coe.int
Foucault, M. (1975). Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison. Pantheon Books.
Kuner, C. (2020). Transborder data flows and data privacy law. Oxford University Press.
Penney, J. (2016). Chilling effects: Online surveillance and Wikipedia use. Berkeley Technology Law Journal, 31(1), 117-182.
Rawls, J. (1999). A theory of justice. Harvard University Press.
Solove, D. J. (2011). Nothing to hide: The false tradeoff between privacy and security. Yale University Press.
Taylor, L. (2017). What is data justice? The case for connecting digital rights and freedoms globally. Big Data & Society, 4(2), 1-14.
United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
United Nations. (1966). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx
Zuboff, S. (2019). The age of surveillance capitalism: The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. PublicAffairs.