• Ana Brian Nougrères, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy
• Peggy Hicks, director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division of the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR)

Which countries and companies in the European Union use Pegasus, and how does this violate privacy?

The right to privacy is enshrined in Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is also relevant. UN General Assembly Resolution 73/179 also requires human rights to be respected when intercepting digital communications.

The United Nations does not take the initiative itself, but only when attention is drawn to it. There is no overall overview of states that use Pegasus. However, Nougrères reports violations of the right to privacy Israel, Cyprus and Bulgaria. As a result, her office has sent a letter to the governments. Whether there are any answers remains unclear. There are also references to operations in Mexico and El Salvador.

Nougrères suggests a more rigid control regime for companies. They should have to make public how they use surveillance technologies. Citizens should be informed if they have been intercepted, and if this was illegal, they should be compensated.

The scheduled debate with Peggy Hicks was postponed due to technical difficulties.

See here the stream of today‘s hearing.