In the wake of the recent events concerning Edward Snowden, the NSA, GCHQ and the truth behind how little our online privacy means to governments around the world, a new report has been released by David Kaye, a U.N special rapporteur for the Freedom of Expression, calling for better standards for online privacy through encryption and anonymity.
The report by Kaye will be held in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva later in June. The rapporteur has made it clear in his report that there’s never been a more important time to talk about our rights to anonymity and encryption in the digital space.
It’s becoming more widely known just how far corporations and governments can go to snoop into our lives and invade our privacy online, and these privacy concerns sit on a fuzzy grey line on the borders of Human rights laws.
The new report suggests solutions that nations should opt for to establish an environment for individuals to exercise freedom of opinion and expression securely. It talks largely about encryption tools and their interconnectedness with privacy and anonymity. Kaye’s report claims that one of the most secure methods to stay encrypted and anonymous online is to use anonymity tools such as Proxies, VPNs and browsers like TOR.
Unfortunately, many nations are actively seeking to combat such anonymity tools, and Kaye believes rules should be set out to allow fair access to such encryption methods, and in fact, the usage of tools like TOR should be encouraged.
“States should revise or establish, as appropriate, national laws and regulations to promote and protect the rights to privacy and freedom of opinion and expression,” The report says.
The UN report touches on a few other areas related to anonymity and encryption online, with the enforcement of legislation and regulations enabling access to anonymity tools to secure human rights defenders and journalist communications being one of them.
The report also suggests that restrictions on encryption and anonymity should be prohibited. Blanket prohibitions for such technology should never be necessary. Users of digital communications should also not be forced to provide their identification to use such methods as the internet or cell phones via SIM card or IP registration.
Another area that the report delves into that plays an incredible part on the invasion of our privacy are website and company backdoors. The report suggests that backdoors, even if used solely for Government access, are opening up security flaws within a system that could be taken advantage of by those with more malicious intent.
Overall, many key points are made throughout the report to call for more transparent laws regarding online privacy. It’s certain that the power governments are allowed to use to look into an individual’s online information and personal data should be maintained. Many important notes about anonymity and encryption are mentioned in the report, especially regarding fair government standards for allowing individuals to use and access anonymity tools like those mentioned before.
The report strongly encourages states, nations, corporations and civil society organizations to stand up and campaign towards a world that would open their arms to encryption and the privacy of individuals online. The report suggests that encryption by design should be, “Default to users around the world and, where necessary, to ensure that users at risk be provided the tools to exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression securely.”
The report, by Kayes, which includes 20 pages, can be viewed online here. Right now we’re at a time where the importance of campaigning for fairer standards toward individual privacy is at an all time high, and this report lays out a lot of well-thought out rules and concepts that should be adopted worldwide. If you’re concerned about the future of your online privacy it is certainly worth a read.
There’s no doubt that clearer regulations should be set out, and if a state or nation were to step up and take the right steps to a fairer approach to the privacy rights every human deserves, it would be a great case study to encourage other nations to offer similar changes to their laws and regulations regarding online privacy and anonymity. Hopefully this report sparks a change across the globe.
