Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Report On Spyware And Surveillance OHCHR
/
2:16
/
MP4
/
166.9 MB

Edited News | OHCHR

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Report On Spyware And Surveillance OHCHR

People’s rights to privacy is coming under even greater pressure from the use of modern networked digital technologies whose features make them formidable tools for surveillance, control and oppression, a new UN report has warned.

Speaking to the media today at the United Nations in Geneva, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), Elizabeth Throssell, said that “the report details how surveillance tools such as the Pegasussoftware, can turn most smartphones into 24 hour surveillance devices, allowing the intruder not only access to everything on our phones, but also weaponizing them to spy on our lives.

This latest report on privacy in the digital age by OHCHR looks at use of intrusive hacking tools (“spyware”) by State authorities, the role of robust encryption methods in protecting human rights online, and the impacts of widespread digital monitoring of public spaces, both offline and online.

Digital technologies bring enormous benefits to society, but pervasive surveillance comes at a high cost, undermining rights and choking the development of vibrant pluralistic democracies », said Ms. Throssel. «The right to privacy is more at risk than ever before, and this is why action is needed and needed now.

The report also cautions that government interference with encrypted communications, and indiscriminate surveilling of the public would de facto not meet the standards of proportionality, necessity and effectiveness as required under international human rights law.

While such spyware tools are purportedly deployed to combat terrorism and crime, they have often been used for illegitimate reasons », reported Ms Throssel. «For example, to clamp down on critical or dissenting views and on those who express them, including journalists, opposition political figures and human rights defenders.

The report reiterates OHCHR’s call for a moratorium on the sale, transfer and use of hacking tools until a human rights-based safeguards regime is in place.

According to Liz Throssel, “urgent steps are needed to address the spread of spyware ». She added that “the report reiterates the call for a moratorium on the use and sale of hacking tools until adequate safeguards to protect human rights are in place. Authorities should only hack a personal advice as a last resort to, as the report says, prevent or investigate a specific act amounting to a serious threat to national security or a specific serious crime.’ ”

Governments often fail to adequately inform the public about their surveillance activities, and even where surveillance tools are initially rolled out for legitimate goals, they can easily be repurposed, often serving ends for which they were not originally intended.

Ms Throssel added that “the report also raises the alarm about the growing surveillance of public spaces. Now, previous practical limitations on the scope of surveillance have been swept away by large scale automated collection and analysis of data, as well as new digitized identity systems and extensive biometric databases that greatly facilitate the breadth of such surveillance measures.

Such deep interference with the right to privacy can have a profound negative impact on democracy, free expression and the enjoyment of many other human rights. This is why, the report recalls, any interference with the right to privacy, whether that be hacking, restrictions to access and use of encryption technology or surveillance of the public, must comply with international human rights law.

-ends-

  1. Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
  2. Wide shot, press room with panel of speakers.
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for OHCHR: “The report details how surveillance tools such as the Pegasussoftware, can turn most smartphones into 24 hour surveillance devices, allowing the intruder not only access to everything on our phones, but also weaponizing them to spy on our lives.
  4. Close up shot, camera screen showing speaker.
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for OHCHR: “Digital technologies bring enormous benefits to society, but pervasive surveillance comes at a high cost, undermining rights and choking the development of vibrant pluralistic democracies. The right to privacy is more at risk than ever before, and this is why action is needed and needed now.
  6. Medium shot,
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for OHCHR: “While such spyware tools are purportedly deployed to combat terrorism and crime, they have often been used for illegitimate reasons. For example, to clamp down on critical or dissenting views and on those who express them, including journalists, opposition political figures and human rights defenders.
  8. Medium shot, journalists taking notes.
  9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for OHCHR: “Urgent steps are needed to address the spread of spyware. The report reiterates the call for a moratorium on the use and sale of hacking tools until adequate safeguards to protect human rights are in place. Authorities should only hack a personal advice as a last resort to, as the report says, prevent or investigate a specific act amounting to a serious threat to national security or a specific serious crime.’ ”
  10. Close up shot, journalists taking notes.
  11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Elizabeth Throssell, spokesperson for OHCHR: “The report also raises the alarm about the growing surveillance of public space Now, previous practical limitations on the scope of surveillance have been swept away by large scale automated collection and analysis of data, as well as new digitized identity systems and extensive biometric databases that greatly facilitate the breadth of such surveillance measures.
  12. Medium shot, pressroom, journalists taking notes.
  13. Medium shot, journalist taking notes.
  14. Medium shot, screen showing speakers.

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan ENG FRA

The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).  

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment. 

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA

1

1

1

Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA ENG FRA

‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives

Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025 ENG FRA

‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials

Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO

1

12

1

1

Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO ENG FRA

UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science

No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.

Gaza aid update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Gaza aid update - WFP ENG FRA

Gazans’ response to food distributions ‘overwhelming’ as humanitarians scale up under fragile ceasefire

In Gaza, the ceasefire is enabling UN humanitarians to reach more desperate people with life-saving food, but greater access is needed to contain the spread of famine.

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP , OCHA

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025 ENG FRA

UN urges opening of all Gaza crossings to deliver three-month food supply

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned food aid cannot reach everyone in Gaza unless all border crossings are opened, particularly in the north where famine was declared in August. The agency says it already has enough supplies in place to feed the entire population of the Strip for three months – if full access is granted by Israel.

Gaza update – UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC 14 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNDP , UNICEF , OCHA , ICRC

Gaza update – UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC 14 October 2025 ENG FRA

Around $70 billion will be needed to reconstruct Gaza and make it safe after two years of war, UN development experts said on Tuesday, while aid agencies reported that far too little aid continues to reach  desperate Palestinians.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado: reaction from UN rights office

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado: reaction from UN rights office ENG FRA

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday welcomed the Nobel Peace Prize committee’s decision to name Maria Machado as this year’s laureate, in recognition of her work promoting the Venezuelan people’s democratic hopes.

Gaza ceasefire agreement – UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO 10 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza ceasefire agreement – UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO 10 October 2025 ENG FRA

As Gazans jammed the main route leading north on Friday after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced, UN aid teams repeated their call to open all crossings into the devastated enclave to prevent famine spreading.

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO ENG FRA

Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians

Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.