Sustaining human rights in the era of new technologies: Case studies of Armenia, Belarus and the Kyrgyz Republic
Sustaining human rights in the era of new technologies: Case studies of Armenia, Belarus and the Kyrgyz Republic
Date
2019
Authors
Abdubachaeva, Aisuluu
Vavrik, Kristina
Ayvazyan, Karen
Mkrtchyan, Mariam
Nosik, Yuriy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Global Campus of Human Rights
Abstract
The development of new technologies and innovation is meant to
enhance accessibility and make life easier. Due to the fast pace of development,
the response of countries to new technologies is crucial to ensure their
reasonable use. However, along with the development of new technologies
different implications have emerged as some developing countries appear not to
be capable of effectively responding to these developments. Despite the positive
impact of new technologies on various aspects of life, their misuse has negative
implications for the enjoyment of human rights. This article aims to explore
regional challenges to human rights caused by new technologies at the national
and regional levels. It also aims to identify long-term structural challenges to
human rights in Armenia, Belarus and the Kyrgyz Republic with a focus on
cyber security, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, access to information
and data protection policies. It further aims to make recommendations to
stakeholders so as to improve the situation and minimise the negative impact of
new technologies on human rights. On the one hand, the study reveals that the
development of new technologies increased the accessibility of people to
information in terms of e-governance programmes. Moreover, it shows that
political mobilisation and participation, and freedom of expression have been
enhanced due to social media developments. On the other hand, it identifies the
current challenges to human rights in Armenia, Belarus, and the Kyrgyz
Republic in terms of increasing hate speech online, media manipulation, the
spreading of disinformation, data leakage and cyber security. The study shows
that despite the positive impact of the new technologies on the enjoyment of
human rights, the inability of these states to effectively respond to the
developments and eliminate the misuse of new technologies, and the
insufficiency of strategies, legislation and policies, are negatively impacting on
human rights.
Key words: human rights; digitalisation; cyber security; new technologies;
e-governance; freedom of speech; free flow of information; digital rights
Description
Keywords
human rights,
technological innovation,
freedom of speech,
security,
information,
internet
Citation
A Abdubachaeva, K Vavrik, K Ayvazyan, M Mkrtchyan & Y Nosik ‘Sustaining human rights in the era of
new technologies: Case studies of Armenia, Belarus and the Kyrgyz Republic’ (2019) 3 Global Campus Human Rights Journal 286-311
http://dx.doi.org/10.25330/477