Agenda: Addressing the rights to privacy and data protection in an increasingly digital economy

In today’s digital world, the right to privacy and the protection of personal data have emerged as some of the most urgent human rights concerns. As big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things expand, individuals face growing risks of surveillance, data commodification, and even identity theft. Governments and corporations alike now possess the ability to track the most ordinary aspects of people’s lives, constructing vast and often biased ecosystems of information. Such data is frequently misused to justify discrimination, suppress political movements, and curtail personal freedoms. These dangers are especially acute for marginalized communities, who often lack the financial resources or technical knowledge to defend themselves effectively. The rapid transformation of the global economy into a digitalized and largely deregulated system has compounded these challenges, raising questions about how to protect rights without obstructing innovation and progress.

Reaffirming privacy and data protection as fundamental human rights is therefore a responsibility that the Human Rights Council is uniquely positioned to address. This agenda calls on member states to strengthen the enforcement of existing frameworks for responsible data use, corporate accountability, and equitable digital protection on a global scale. It promotes a vision of technology and innovation as tools to address social challenges, rather than instruments of exploitation. By developing incentives for compliance and fostering collective action, the Council can ensure that the digital economy advances not only efficiency and growth but also broader goals of personal empowerment, global trust, and human dignity. Through united effort, the Council has the means to safeguard individuals in the digital sphere while ensuring that technological progress contributes to human rights and sustainable development for all.