Last year, amid
widespread protests in Egypt, a group of citizens managed to force their way
into buildings of the Ministry of Interior – a branch of the government
notorious for brutal tactics employed to preserve the former Mubarak
regime. In one of these buildings, a cache of
documents were found (which you can now access on the web) that detailed a
series of meetings between officials of the Interior Ministry and the local
heads of large multi-national telecommunications and internet companies
operating in Egypt. In one such meeting
at the end of 2010, the discussions
included how to cut off internet access in a single city and in several cities,
blocking particular websites, and obtaining personal information. In another meeting at the beginning of 2011,
digital Spy-ware purchased from a private company was discussed, including its
ability to tap into online accounts, plant spy files on computers that would
allow one to control the computer, and other highly invasive abilities. Here
were well-know private companies planning repression with a government body
famous for committing severe rights violations.
A couple of months
later all of the capabilities that private companies jointly developed with the
Interior Ministry were employed on a country wide scale in an attempt to
undermine mass democratic protests. Sequential
crackdown on communication platforms, including kill-switch, happened from 25
January till 5 February[1].
[1]
Diagram http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramyraoof/5814392791/
SOURCE: Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
(CIHRS/IFEX) - In a Panel on Freedom of Expression on the Internet, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) in cooperation with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) delivered an oral statement before the 19th session of the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council currently in session. A high-level list of panelists composed of UN and state officials, and heads of multi-telecommunications companies took the floor. Speakers included the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay who spoke of the importance of internet in the context ongoing unrest and expressed concern over certain practices like blocking access to websites and committing violations against human rights defenders for using social media tools to document rights violations.
In their joint statement, CIHRS and EIPR revealed the existence of documented proof that the telephone and internet blackout in Egypt during the 18 days revolution was a premeditated crime organized between the Interior Ministry and the local heads of multi-national telecommunications and internet companies. Both organizations argued that official documents from 2010 and 2011, included strategies to cut off internet access in a single city and in several cities, blocking particular websites, and obtaining personal information. In addition to other strategies to tap into online accounts, plant spy files on computers, and other highly invasive abilities.
The statement pointed out that the responsibility for human rights violations and abuses does not lie solely on the state, but also private actors such as companies are liable for such violations.
"The Human Rights Council has the duty to find alternative means to hold private multi-national telecommunications and internet companies liable for these violations" said Ramy Raouf, Online Media Officer at EIPR. "The national and international legal vacuum, under which these companies are currently operating, is further endangering the lives of peaceful pro-democracy protestors and citizens in repressive states" he added.
The two Egyptian organizations argued that asking corporations to conduct a due diligence process is not enough since "in many instances the private companies themselves have violated their own user agreements, but with little consequence since no sufficient external or multi-national ombudsman exist to ensure that these companies apply basic human rights standards."
"If the International Community is serious in implementing policies that protect the life of civilians during peaceful protests, a resolution or international guidelines should be developed to ensure that online companies have a limited access to users' information and that the users themselves have access and control to what personal information companies have and own" said Laila Matar CIHRS' UN Representative. "A clear policy of zero tolerance should be adopted by the international community and private companies concerning the cutting off of communications systems at anytime, for any reason" she added.
During the panel, several countries took the floor, including Germany, Turkey, China, India, Canada, Morocco, and Egypt who stated that freedom of Internet is important for individual dignity and socio-political development and has played a key role in the Egyptian revolution. The Egyptian delegation further stated that there should be no restrictions on the law of the internet, which must be compatible with international human rights law.
To download the text of the intervention:
CIHRS_HRC_Intervention_Multinationals.doc (187 KB)
For more information:
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
PO Box 117 (Maglis El-Shaab)
Street address: 21 Abd El-Megid El-Remaly St., 7th Floor, Flat no. 71, Bab El Louk
Cairo
Egypt
info (@) cihrs.org
Phone: +202 2 795 1112/+202 27963757
Fax: +202 2 792 1913
http://www.cihrs.org
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