TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN RIGHTS: NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL FRONTIER

D.E ONYEACHONAM  

ABSTRACT:

There is a high-level of significance placed on technology, as it has rapidly reshaped every aspect of one's life, presenting lots of opportunities and advantages, alongside a series of challenges to the promotion and protection of Human rights. This paper delves into the positive and negative implications of technology on rights such as privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information

This article tends to bring to light the intersection between technology and Human rights, exploring how digital technology can be used in the advancement and protection of Human rights. It also examines critical issues and challenges posed by digital innovations.  This research also highlights the importance of a balanced approach towards harnessing technology while safeguarding human rights. The paper proposes actionable strategies to ensure that digital technology aligns with human dignity and global equity, navigating the complex landscape of a digital frontier responsibly. The article concludes with recommendations for policymakers, technologists, and human rights advocates to ensure that technological progress aligns with the principles of human dignity and justice.

1.0 INTRODUCTION:

This topic is of critical importance and deserves maximum attention as it addresses human rights in this digital age, where technology has greatly impacted our societal structures including our individual freedom. Technology is rapidly turning the world into a digital landscape thereby reshaping how we exercise our rights, also developing techniques in protecting our core rights. 

Technology has witnessed impressive evolution in the past few decades, which has in turn transformed our lives and helped us evolve with it. Nowadays, the importance of technology in our daily lives is more and more pervasive, thereby humans have gradually turned technology into a God and place so much reliance on it. 

Human rights are part and parcel of the digital age as technology has become parts of our lives, the way we communicate, access information, participate in society, and exercise our rights. The rise of technology has posed potential risks to the rights of individuals due to the frequent use of technologies. These risks have undermined freedoms, privacy, and access to justice. 

The salient question here is HOW CAN WE NAVIGATE THE DIGITAL FRONTIER, RESPONSIBLY?

Technology is both enabler and threat to human rights requiring a well-structured approach to ensure equitable outcomes, and avoid breaches of human rights.

1.0 Technology and Human rights 

The concept of Human Rights dates as far back as the existence of man, it can be traced back to ancient civilization and the teachings of ancient scholars like Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle. The birth of technology has rapidly improved and created a lasting effect on our fundamental human rights.

Here are some of the roles that technology plays in advancement of human rights: 

Right to privacy: Digital technology has revolutionized how personal data is collected and used. From social media to smart devices, our data is constantly being monitored. Laws like the GDPR in the EU and the CCPA in California aim to protect our privacy by regulating data collection and giving individuals more control over their personal information. In Nigeria, the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) similarly aims to safeguard personal information, but enforcement remains a challenge.

Freedom of Expression: Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have empowered people worldwide to share their views and mobilize for causes. For instance, the Arab Spring demonstrate how social media could be used to mobilize protests and share real-time updates. However, these platforms can also be used to censor dissent. 

Right to Access Information: The internet has democratized access to information, providing educational resources and global news at our fingertips. Platforms like Coursera and Khan Academy offer free or affordable courses to millions worldwide.

Equality and Non-Discrimination: Technology has the potential to both reduce and exacerbate inequalities. While AI can offer innovative solutions, it can also perpetuate biases if not designed inclusively. For Example, biases in AI algorithms can lead to discriminatory outcomes, such as biased hiring practices or unfair judicial decisions. Ensuring that technology is developed and used equitably is crucial to promoting fairness and justice.

Accessibility of Education: By virtue of technology, old and archaic system of learning has been transformed there by making it easier for learning to be more engaging, stimulating and accessible to everyone irrespective of where you're.

Through the instrumentality of Technology, there are several means by which information and knowledge can be produced and discovered. Over the years, technology has played a pivotal role in reshaping educational landscapes, making learning more accessible, interactive, and efficient. Educational-technology has fundamentally changed education’s future and challenged conventional teaching methods is fascinating.

Freedom of information: The world has become a global village making it possible to transmit every day happenings across different parts of the world in a split of seconds. Technology continues to enhance the availability of information to everyone; people can now record daily events and share across the globe. Without technology it will be difficult to document violations of rights. One of such notable events were the relevance of technology to the concept of Human Rights, was seen in the OCTOBER, 2020 END SARS PROTEST in Nigeria, protesters were able to document details of happenings in the course of the protest, there was an evident violation of the rights of citizens of Nigeria, this made the world aware of the political struggles in Nigeria.

Health care and medical facilities: Research has proven that the medical sector has experienced significant change over time by virtue of technology. Technology has made health care to be available at the fingertips, different medical apps are available to everyone, medical practitioners and patients can track and monitor medical records/ history, patients can easily access medical practitioners virtually and receive emergency attention.

IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON FINANCIAL INCLUSION: Technology has greatly influenced financial services industry, increased broadband penetration, which promotes financial services delivery in rural areas, provides consumers with bespoke services (digital banking, mobile lending and savings), promotes access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), leads to increased efficiency of traditional financial institutions and, more fundamentally, drives financial inclusion.

Technology as a threat to human rights

Being fully aware of the numerous development technology has brought to us on a platter of gold. We are still not ignorant of the systematic threats to human rights posed by technology by reproducing structural discrimination against marginalized groups in policing, migration, social welfare, and access to health care. Hate speech and disinformation spread with unprecedented speed and reach on social media platforms, fueling toxic attacks against minorities and women. 

The following are the negative impacts of technology in our fundamental human rights:

Privacy concerns: Technological innovation has outpaced our privacy protections. In a world, where our personal information is stored online, it makes it accessible to the public for data breaches, and this has affected our rights to privacy. Most websites only allow you to gain access by releasing personal information which is stored online. The internet being a public space, the right of privacy of users are prone to threat or to be trampled upon. The World Economic Forum research showed that by 2020, 34 billion devices will possibly be connected to the internet. These devices can track personal data like location. This Makes our private life, a public one.

“The fact that technology now allows an individual to carry such information in his hand does not make the information any less worthy of the protection for which the Founders fought.”—U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in Riley v. California (2014)

As a result of these technological innovations, our digital footprint can be tracked by the government and corporations in ways that were once unthinkable. This digital footprint is constantly growing, containing more and more data about the most intimate aspects of our lives. This includes our communications, whereabouts, online searches, purchases, and even our bodies. When the government has easy access to this information, we lose more than just privacy and control over our information. Free speech, security, and equality suffer as well. Privacy breaches on the internet pose real dangers. The risks are more far-reaching than most people realize because of what might happen to your data next.

These technological innovations have led to mass surveillance. By systematically monitoring people’s lives, processing, generation, analysis, use, retention or storage of information about large numbers of people, without any regard to whether they are suspected of wrongdoing.

We have seen the use of more technologically advanced surveillance and drone technology; this equipment is used to monitor and collect information about people within a geographical area.

The misuse of personal data has become a serious issue as digital technology advances, and these have caused significant harm to persons and organizations. According to the "Public Perception of Personal Data Protection 2021" survey by Kominfo (reported by Databoks) on over 11,000 respondents, 28.7% of the public admitted to having experienced such incidents. About 44.1% of respondents experienced a reduction in their bank account balances and 32.2% lost e-wallet balances due to data breaches. The personal freedom of people is constantly breached in the course of using high-tech equipment like surveillance cameras and drones that can take pictures and record every activity of people within a period, the personal freedom of individuals can no longer be guaranteed in this era. In the case of Big BrotherWatch & ors vs The United Kingdom, the European Court of Human Rights found some aspects of the UK’s mass surveillance regime to violate the freedom of expression and right to privacy as provided in the European Convention on human Rights.

Censorship and Freedom of speech: The internet has given us a global platform, and a way to instantly communicate with people across the world. However, Internet freedom of speech and expression have been greatly affected in recent years. Governments and corporations have increasingly restricted access to certain types of content, and implemented policies that limit the ability of individuals to express their views. This has been done largely in the name of protecting national security and preventing the spread of terrorist propaganda and hate speech. But it has also been used to silence political dissent and criticism of government policies, and to restrict access to information that could empower citizens and help them make informed decisions. In addition, online censorship and the manipulation of online conversations through algorithms and artificial intelligence have further limited freedom of expression on the internet. The Federal Government of Nigeria in the year 2021 banned Twitter in Nigeria shortly after the tweet of the President calling for the ruthless decimation of calls for Biafra in the South East was taken down by the platform. The government further directed all broadcasting stations to cease the use of the platform. This Negative State approach to regulation of social media will undermine the freedom of expression guaranteed Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and international conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.

Digital divide and inequality: The digital divide refers to the gap between those who have access to modern information and communication technology (ICT) and those who do not. Many rural and low-income areas lack infrastructure and affordable internet access. For example, while urban areas in Nigeria like Lagos have decent connectivity, rural regions often struggle. The high cost of internet and devices also limits access for many people. This presents significant obstacles to achieving equitable access to information and communication technologies (ICTs).  Research has proven that most technological devices are usually inaccessible to some part of the globe due to certain reasons which include the rate at which a technological device is sold. This has made it impossible for people especially in remote and rural areas to have access to these devices in this digital age. Difficulty in accessing ICTs increases inequality among different groups, as it prevents part of the population from accessing the possibilities they offer. For example, during the lockdown, where many schoolchildren were forced to continue their classes online, the lack of a stable connection and the appropriate devices meant some students were unable to keep up their schooling as normal. The same happened with working from home: adults who lacked the right tools and know-how were limited in their ability to work as normal. This proves that technology influences inequality in society and brings some sort of digital divide among individuals, groups, and families.

Technology-Facilitated abuse: Technology-facilitated can be described as a deceptive behavior that involves the use of technology as a means to coerce, stalk or harass another person which includes; sending abusive texts, emails or messages via social media, making threatening phone calls, checking someone’s text messages, social media activity or internet activity without their consents, forbidding someone from having a phone or limiting who they can contact via phone or internet, spying on, monitoring or stalking someone through any type of surveillance device (such as a tracking system or spyware) Sharing intimate photos of someone without their consent (sometimes called revenge porn). Technology can be very helpful to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking, but is also often misused by abusers to harass, threaten, coerce, monitor, exploit, and violate their victims.

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL FRONTIER: EXPLORING THE FUTURE IT

The salient question here is “how do we navigate the digital frontier, responsibly?”

In an era characterized by numerous technological advancements, the digital frontier is vast and robust, and as we forge ahead it presents formidable challenges especially to our fundamental human rights. In order to navigate this frontier effectively and responsibly, one must embrace and understand the trajectory of IT and technological paradigms.

Policy and governance: As long as humans exist, technology has come to stay and it will remain intertwined with our lives, therefore, the need for legal and regulatory instruments cannot be overemphasized. As technology advances rapidly, and in order to navigate the digital frontier responsibly, policy and governance play a crucial role in shaping how societies navigate the digital frontier. Effective governance and policies ensure that societal values, and human rights align to technological innovations. There should be robust legal framework to protect digital rights.

KEY AREAS IN POLICY AND GOVERNANCE 

Data privacy and security 

To navigate the digital frontier, the government must enforce laws like the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) to protect individuals’ data and privacy rights. It's a matter of urgency that the government create data policy security laws and also implement them in order for society to navigate the digital frontier. To ensure that the data security policy is effectively implemented, the government must develop an action plan that includes employee training and awareness programs, integrating security measures into daily operations, and establishing mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing policy compliance. Regular audits and reviews are conducted to assess the effectiveness of existing controls and identify areas for improvement.

The data security policy must be continuously monitored, updated, and refined to adapt to changing technology, threats, and business requirements. This involves staying informed about the latest cybersecurity trends and best practices, as well as periodically reevaluating the organization's risk assessment and security measures to ensure ongoing effectiveness and compliance.

In Nigeria, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, regulates the use of technology in Nigeria and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission is the body that oversees and regulates data processing and controlling organizations or entities, Chapter 4 of the grundnorm- the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, spells out the different rights of its citizens, this aligns with the provisions of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There is also provision for Courts at different levels where people can seek redress where there is perceived breach of their rights and/or the law. However, despite the existence of these laws and bodies enforcing them, people's rights are trampled upon on daily basis. 

Digital inclusion: Policies must be made to bridge the digital divide created by these technological innovations ensuring that everyone gains access to the internet and digital technologies. In order to bridge the digital divide, the government should consider initiatives such as subsidized internet, affordable digital devices, and digital literacy programs.

Cyber security: The government should make it a point of duty to actively work against cyber bullying, protect critical infrastructure, financial systems, and personal data from threats. Collaborative efforts across nations are necessary to tackle issues like ransomware and state-sponsored hacking.

Embracing Intellectual property law: In this digital age, the essence of intellectual property law is paramount. it's evident that understanding and protecting IP rights is essential in the digital age. These rights not only safeguard the interests of creators and innovators but also fuel the growth and evolution of our digital society

Ethical design: As the world is evolving, there is no stopping point for the invention of new technologies and as such the creator of these technologies must bear in mind human rights. Creating technologies with human rights at their core is essential for building a fair, inclusive, and sustainable future. As technology increasingly shapes how we live, work, and interact, its design and deployment must respect fundamental rights such as privacy, freedom of expression, equality, and access to information.

Digital literacy: Digital literacy is an asset in this digital age, as it aids easy and efficient navigation of the digital frontier, as it empowers individuals to engage confidently, responsibly, and effectively in an environment shaped by rapid technological advancements and vast flows of information. It equips people to understand the tools, platforms, and technologies that dominate modern life, from social media to AI-driven systems. This foundational knowledge enables users to make informed choices and leverage these tools to their advantage.

UNESCO's Digital Literacy Efforts

UNESCO has been actively working to reduce the digital divide globally by promoting digital literacy and inclusive access to information and communication technologies. Their initiatives focus on improving digital skills, supporting policy development, and advocating for equitable access to technology. These efforts are crucial in ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their location or economic status, can benefit from digital advancements.

India's notable initiative 

India has made notable progress in improving digital access through its Digital India initiative. This program focuses on building digital infrastructure, increasing internet penetration, and promoting digital literacy across the country. Despite these advancements, the digital divide persists, particularly in rural areas where internet access remains limited.

Corporate responsibility: Organizations and tech companies should prioritize the rights of their users as it displays corporate responsibility.

Furthermore, In today's digital environment facing data leaks and cyber threats, companies should focus on Identity Lifecycle Management (ILM) to protect their sensitive information and ensure secure access management. Identity lifecycle management encompasses the processes and technologies that companies use to manage the lifecycle of user identities within their systems. Implementing ILM offers several benefits to enterprises, including: enhanced security by enforcing access control strengthens security measures that restrict access to sensitive data and systems to authorized users only. ILM simplifies user access management tasks, minimizing the likelihood of human error and unauthorized access. ILM helps in maintaining regulatory compliance.  In addition, ILM helps organizations comply with regulatory standards such as GDPR and HIPAA, ensuring ongoing compliance.

The Roles of International bodies and Agreements in Navigating the digital frontier 

International bodies are organizations established by treaties or other instruments governed by international law(s), examples of such international bodies are the United Nations (UN), European Union, ECOWAS, World Health Organization, NATO and others. These international bodies significantly play a major role in uniting member states for the purpose of security, peace and welfare of its citizens. This is evident in diverse international agreements entered by member states. These international bodies can aid their member states navigate the digital frontier. The only tool that can regulate the use of technology and protect the interest of humanity are international bodies and international agreements, this is a call to all international bodies to shift their focus on developing new regulations and agreements to regulate, minimize, mitigate the risk(s) posed by existing, emerging and novel technologies that may infringe on the fundamental rights of humans within the global sphere. Research has shown that in the past, an international approach was made by the international bodies to regulate the use of advanced technological weapons used in war, there was the 1868 St. Petersburg Declaration, renouncing the use of certain weapons in times of war to protect human life and dignity.

2.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

Technology was made by humans to serve humans, there by technology would respect the dignity, and rights of humans. The intersection of human rights and technology in navigating the digital frontier poses a great challenge, however, in order to successfully navigate, a balanced approach that fosters Innovation and respects dignity is needed. As technology continues to evolve, it is paramount that human rights are not compromised rather than intersected into the digital era. 

This should serve as a wake-up call to technologists, international bodies, agencies institutions, and governments to accept the new reality that technology has to coexist with our fundamental human rights without posing challenges to anyone. By engaging in strategic actions such as strengthening international governance, promoting privacy data protection, ensuring ethical use of technology, bridging digital divide, encouraging responsible innovation, and monitoring surveillance technologist, societies can harness technology’s potential for positive transformation while safeguarding the rights and freedom of individuals in the digital frontier. Youth engagement is not a completely failed project, Nigeria Youth SDGs Network, a coalition of youth-led and youth-focused civil society organization with membership of about two hundred and twenty youths has not succeeded in achieving the purposes for which it was created. Similarly, policies directed towards SDGs attainment have been met with numerous challenges and thus, been unable to produce the desired results.

In analyzing this ineffectiveness, this paper has identified some challenges and proposed solutions to them. It is, therefore pertinent that the foregoing be considered and implemented for the promotion of a sustainable Nigeria.