The Digital Human Rights debate

Digital Human Rights — Do they exist? And above all, do we need them?

I think it is essential that I dive into the topic, or more the doubts that I have in understanding the existence of digital human rights, because if I want to see technology as a force for good, understanding the legal framework gives a good sense in understanding where we stand as humans been, while we approach the most significant change that our society will experience since the industrial revolution.

These questions prompted my attention last week after WhatsApp wanted to enforce Terms and Conditions updates to its customer base, so to share the information with Facebook usage and gather more combined user data. Besides my personal and commercial thoughts, the most worrying statement that I have been reading on the argument is “They are crushing are digital human rights” and while I am sitting at my desk, I appreciate that I do not have an answer. Do we have digital human rights? I do not think so, I did some high-level research, and it seems we do not have them. In Europe, we have the General Data Protection Regulation, which is in force since May 2018, better known in short as GDPR. GDPR is about data protection and regulations for European citizen, not for the world, and it does not take into account digital human rights. It does not ask nor answer questions such as if we have the right to be connected, if we have the right to be educated on digital languages such as coding or computer science or if we all should have access to a device that allows us to surf on the internet and to stay connected with the provider of choice.

Several worldwide gigantic institutions are impacted by the very elementary questions that I have raised above, such as if telecommunication companies need to provide a connection to consumer everywhere regardless if the locations are commercially viable, if social media platform need to provide service with an inclusion and diversity strategy or if they should decide about where and when freedom of speech comes to an end, and if educational institutes should make compulsory Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. In the past days’ many words have been written about Facebook enforcing a change of the Terms and Conditions to most of the WhatsApp user base, and many have been shouting about it. Still, no law can stop them; only the market reaction can change strategy to happen.

These above discussions topics have prompted my questions about if we world citizen are equipped to live in the digital era or if someone will be left out? And if we have digital human rights, what are they or who is working on them? The answer is that digital human rights do not exist, we are in a far west status, whoever gets there first reclaims the land, the beauty sits on the facts that the story can be written, hopefully for the better and not for the worst, for the most.

So, should we leave the consumer to decide by themselves, just like in the latest Facebook and WhatsApp case? I believe that the market should be left free to trade with fair competition and choice availability of product and service. Consumers can make their decision that can impact even Big Tech revenues and profits. The consumer is the key decision-maker when deciding for its interest, and corporations will adapt to gain market share and win against competitors. We have not witnessed a potential competitor to Facebook yet, but the market situation can change fast, and Facebook has just discovered its pain.

But when we discuss if we have legislation that protects citizen against commercial, political or religious abuses, or if we should all have access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math curriculum, or if we should have access to online free educational content, this I believe is when legislation should identify what are the digital human rights and how to act upon them.

It would be great if we had more time to answer these questions, but time runs fast, and in the technology industry even quicker. Every technological advancement will drive these questions, and change is happening now, while I write and you read. At stake there is, that part of the world population can be left behind, even in the most advanced economies. And YES, I believe we should start the Digital Human Rights debate as soon as possible so we can all enjoy an Enrich!ed future when living the digital experience.