RightsCon provides us with a critical platform for a global dialogue on emerging human rights issues in the digital space. As technology and online interactions rapidly evolve this discussion has become increasingly urgent

Taiwan must address human rights concerns about the digitalization of government data and other aspects of it’s Internet governance, Amnesty International Taiwan and its partners will say in a joint statement to be presented to President Lai Ching-Te on 25 February.

The statement signed by seven organizations will be presented during the 13th edition of RightsCon, a global conference on promoting and safeguarding digital rights, which is taking place for the first time in East Asia, in Taipei, Taiwan, from 24 to 27 February.

“The Taiwanese government must ensure its approach to digital governance will allow human rights and the rule of law to continue to thrive in the country, 

Eeling Chiu, Amnesty International Taiwan Director.

“When this government came to power, it promised to uphold and respect digital rights. It must live up to it. A crucial step would be to improve regulations on personal data protection by adopting and following sound privacy protection principles that give individuals consent over how their personal data is used and the right to retain control over it.”

The joint statement calls for action on a Digital Bill of Rights drafted and put forward by civil society actors; improvement in the handling and respect of personal data; establishment of a mechanism for accountability and remedy in the event of personal data breaches in public offices; and prevention of the use and abuse of executive powers to restrict internet access.

RightsCon is expected to tackle a broad spectrum of issues, including regulating social media platforms to prevent them from becoming conduits for online hate, the global proliferation of spyware, as well as the emergence of Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and increasing repression online.

“RightsCon provides us with a critical platform for a global dialogue on emerging human rights issues in the digital space. As technology and online interactions rapidly evolve this discussion has become increasingly urgent,” said Eeling Chiu, Amnesty International Taiwan Director.

Amnesty International Taiwan will be participating in the conference throughout its duration with spokespeople available for media interviews regarding Amnesty’s calls for governments to:

• enact and enforce robust data protection laws to help promote human rights, ban surveillance advertising that relies on invasive tracking and the profiling of users for profit.
• establish legally binding measures that require technology companies to conduct human rights due diligence to identify and address human rights impacts related to their global operations, including risks and abuses linked to their algorithmic systems and business models.
• for Big Tech companies to end their surveillance-based business models; and for social media companies to increase investment in local-language content moderation throughout the world, particularly in non-English speaking, Global Majority countries.

Background

Every two years, RightsCon convenes business leaders, policy makers, general counsels, government representatives, technologists, academics, journalists, and human rights advocates from around the world to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of human rights and technology. More than 550 discussion sessions would be held in Taipei and online, bringing together activists, journalists, government representatives and business leaders from around the world to address pressing issues related to human rights in the digital age. Notable speakers at this year’s event include Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) tech official Rashad Abelson, and Tanzanian Parliamentarian Neema Lugangira.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

In Taipei – Jingjie Chen, Senior Media Coordinator at AI Taiwan on jingjie.chen@amnesty.tw

In London – Stanley Kwenda, Strategic Communications Advisor at Amnesty Tech on stanley.kwenda@amnesty.org or Amnesty International’s press office via press@amnesty.org