Technology and human rights
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Digitalisation increases the opportunity to promote and protect human rights, such as freedom of expression and information. At the same time, new risks of violations of these rights arise through surveillance, profiling, discrimination and restrictions on freedom of expression.
We work with public actors, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), companies and financial actors as well as civil society to counteract these risks.
As the digitalisation of public administration increases, so does the capacity for advancing profiling, predictions, control and surveillance of citizens. The digitalisation poses a number of human rights risks, especially in countries that lack robust institutions and legislation to protect rights. To help public authorities achieve greater protection of human rights in digital governance processes, we develop guidance and tools and support other national human rights institutions.
Today virtually all major companies depend on digital services and products, such as facial recognition technologies and algorithmic decision making and other services that carry risks to human rights. Via various communications platforms tech companies effectively control a large part of the infrastructure for public life, and as part of this greatly impact individuals’ rights. To help companies and financial actors identify, assess and address their impacts to human rights, we develop tools, guidance and analysis.
What we do
Ongoing projects
Selected research and analyses
Selected tools
DIGITAL RIGHTS - a resource for NHRIs
This is a resource that explores the impacts of technology on human rights and the role of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in promoting and protecting human rights both online, offline and somewhere in between.
Our work on technology and human rights in Denmark
Large parts of digital life take place on platforms provided for by companies such as Google and Facebook. Contrary to the state, these private companies are not obliged to protect human rights. On digital platforms, your rights are defined and enforced by the company that provide the service. Therefore, citizens have limited opportunities to enforce their rights in the digital space.
In other words, the protection of human rights in Denmark is tied to the Danish state, while on the internet you are in a corporate space where other rules apply. This is problematic, which is why the Danish Institute for Human Rights works to ensure that human rights can also be enforced online.
