INCLO input for UN report: Global surveillance tech expanding faster than its legal, ethical and human rights safeguards

In response to the request by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association (FOAA) for inputs for her upcoming thematic report, INCLO prepared a submission that represents the collective expertise of 16 national human rights organizations, with contributions from 10 different countries.

Our document illustrates how global surveillance technologies, including AI-assisted facial recognition, body-worn cameras, drones, CCTV, spyware, and social media monitoring, are expanding faster than the legal, ethical, and human rights safeguards that govern them. These tools disproportionately target marginalized groups, chill free expression and protest, and entrench state power while undermining democratic participation. 

We collectively call on States to mandate human-rights impact assessments, ensure transparency, independent oversight, bias mitigation, and remedies for affected individuals, and limit intrusive technologies to protect privacy, assembly, and civic engagement. Urgent, coordinated action is needed to align technological expansion with democratic accountability and safeguard inclusive public life.

Read the summary of our expert opinion or download the full submission.