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21 February 2025
Digital platforms empower civic engagement and activism, but also pose serious risks, such as government surveillance, targeted cyberattacks, and sophisticated disinformation tactics. Ransomware attacks on healthcare systems, government networks, and infrastructure illustrate how cyber threats can disrupt essential services and national security. Disinformation campaigns, amplified by AI-generated deepfakes and bot-driven misinformation, have been used to shape political narratives, weaken trust in democratic institutions, and incite social divisions.
Our latest research brief ‘Behind the Lens: Exploring the Problematic Intersection of Surveillance, Cyber Targeting, and Disinformation’ examines the complex relationship between digital technologies and their misuse in surveillance, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns. This joint study written by Erica Harper, Jonathan Andrew, Florence Foster, Joshua Niyo, Beatrice Meretti and Catherine Sturgess details how the increasing reliance on digital systems has made them primary targets and tools for controlling societies - with deep implications for human rights, human agency and global security.
Using global examples the authors highlight the role of technology companies in regulating these threats, and emphasize the need for a balanced approach that preserves digital freedoms while implementing safeguards. The research brief concludes by outlining policy recommendations for governments to enforce rights-based regulations, private companies to enhance transparency and ethical oversight, and civil society to advocate for digital rights.
This report is part of the Academy’s broader work related to new technologies, digitalization, and big data. Our research in this domain explores whether these new developments are compatible with exis ting rules and whether international human rights law and IHL continue to provide the level of protection they should.
News
Adobe
Our research brief, Neurotechnology and Human Rights: An Audit of Risks, Regulatory Challenges, and Opportunities, examines the human rights implications of neurotechnology in both therapeutic and commercial applications.
News
Adobe
Our recent research brief, Neurodata: Navigating GDPR and AI Act Compliance in the Context of Neurotechnology, examines how effectively GDPR addresses the unique risks posed by neurodata.
Event
Adobe Stock
This side event represents a critical opportunity to reflect on the innovative approaches taken through the treaty body strengthening process and to consider the future direction of the treaty body system.
Event
Adobe Stock
The event, as part of the AI for Good Summit 2025 will explore how AI tools can support faster data analysis, help uncover patterns in large datasets, and expand the reach of human rights work.
Training
UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
This hands-on training is designed specifically for diplomats from Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries who are current or prospective members of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Training
This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.
Project
Victoria Pickering
This project aims at providing support to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association Clément Voulé by addressing emerging issues affecting civic space and eveloping tools and materials allowing various stakeholders to promote and defend civic space.
Project
CCPR Centre
The Geneva Human Rights Platform collaborates with a series of actors to reflect on the implementation of international human rights norms at the local level and propose solutions to improve uptake of recommendations and decisions taken by Geneva-based human rights bodies at the local level.
Publication
Geneva Academy
Publication
Geneva Academy
