[bestbits] Free Speech Groups Issue New Guide to the International “Necessary & Proportionate Principles”

[Katitza Rodriguez]

Dear all

Find in the link below the legal background paper of the Principles. You
can download the paper from the site:
https://necessaryandproportionate.org/LegalAnalysis



EFF and ARTICLE 19 Urges Governments to Preserve Fundamental Freedoms in
the Age of Mass Surveillance

San Francisco and London – As the global debate over the intelligence
programs revealed by Edward Snowden approaches its first anniversary,
the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and ARTICLE 19 today published
a new legal analysis of the Necessary & Proportionate Principles, a
guiding framework for countries to apply international human rights law
to communications surveillance.

Currently, there are few legal or technological constraints on
international monitoring, data gathering, and use of digital
communications. This report serves as important context and background
as states around the world discuss the future of privacy.

"As our everyday interactions, activities and communications now emit a
continuous stream of revealing information, the question has become: how
do we preserve fundamental freedoms in the digital age?” EFF
International Rights Director Katitza Rodriguez said. “This paper
explains how and why we must rein in unchecked surveillance state at
home and abroad and protect the freedoms of everyone, regardless of
citizenship or statelessness."

Thomas Hughes, executive director of ARTICLE 19, added: "Mass
surveillance violates our rights to freedom of expression and privacy.
Almost a year after the Snowden revelations, little to no progress has
been made in ensuring that surveillance practices meet international
legal standards. This report shows that mass surveillance laws must be
overhauled as a matter of urgency."

The Necessary & Proportionate Principles were launched in July 2013
after a year of consultation between privacy advocates and technology
experts, and have since gathered momentum across the globe and in the
United Nations itself. More than 400 organizations and 300,000
individuals have endorsed the principles, which articulate how unchecked
surveillance power can threaten privacy, association and free expression

The background paper:
https://necessaryandproportionate.org/LegalAnalysis

For the principles:
Necessaryandproportionate.org/text

About the Electronic Frontier Foundation:

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading organization
protecting civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, we
defend free speech online, fight illegal surveillance, promote the
rights of digital innovators, and work to ensure that the rights and
freedoms we enjoy are enhanced, rather than eroded, as our use of
technology grows. EFF is a member-supported organization. Find out more
at https://www.eff.org.

About ARTICLE 19

ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organization that works around
the world to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression and
the right to freedom of information. It takes its name from Article 19
of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. ARTICLE 19 monitors
threats to freedom of expression in different regions of the world, as
well as national and global trends and develops long-term strategies to
address them and advocates for the implementation of the highest
standards of freedom of expression, nationally and globally.
Contact:

Katitza Rodriguez
   International Rights Director
   Electronic Frontier Foundation
   katitza at eff.org

Siobhan Sheerin
   Press Officer
   ARTICLE 19
   siobhan at article19.org
-- 
Katitza Rodriguez
International Rights Director
Electronic Frontier Foundation

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