Protecting human rights in the current Information Age present many new challenges that all governments must tackle right away. [File photo]

The tenth of December each year is Human Rights Day.  It marks the day in 1948 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Two years later, in 1950, the UN called on all nation states to observe December 10 as "Human Rights Day."

For this year's celebration, the UN called on all nations to honor and celebrate the 50th anniversary of two important covenants: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966.

But what of human rights in the current Information Age?  The reality is that technology is a tool.  And, like all tools, it can be used for good or ill; it can be used skillfully or clumsily.  The challenge is to use for good the technology we have the intelligence to create, but sometimes lack the wisdom to ensure it is used well.

On the one hand, technology, especially e-commerce and mobile technology, has transformed and enriched the lives of billions of people. Technology has helped to bring peace and security. It has brought more information to more people, better services, and improved standards of living.  

To take one recent example in the area of human rights, millions of refugees who have lost documentation covering their medical, education and other life-related records are being assisted by software which enables digital records to be created and easily transported with the refugees no matter where they go.  

Developments in e-government and monitoring progress on violations of human rights have been greatly enhanced by technology.  Using big data analytics, for example, analysis can be done to identify websites and groups promoting human trafficking and other illegal activity negatively impacting human rights. 

It can be used to give citizens greater and more genuine participation in policy formation. It can provide early warning of potential harm due to pollution of the environment, for example. It can -- as in the case of software platforms like the Khan Academy delivering thousands of online tutorials every day to millions of people -- bring education to anyone with an internet connection.  

It can transform healthcare delivery, with drone technology used to deliver much needed medical supplies to remote regions that are otherwise inaccessible. It can coordinate relief in disaster zones. 

Just as the internet crosses national borders, so too, as a result of international covenants, human rights are deemed to be "universal" and not restricted by national borders. Given human rights are not limited by national borders, technology can easily cross them as well to monitor situations, verify reports and enable communication between various groups working to protect human rights.  

Big data analytics can point to areas that require investigation and provide insights into what action is required. Technology can overcome physical barriers to access by enabling human rights defenders to communicate securely and help verify reports of abuse. Microsoft, for example, is engaged in a five-year partnership with the UN to support its human rights efforts.

While it can be a force for good, technology also presents challenges. Privacy protection, for example, is under serious erosion as a result of technology advances. Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), billions of devices will all be connected and communicating with one another. 

While such technology can offer many benefits, there is growing concern about the risks to privacy and other human rights.  Online bullying, discrimination, cyber-crime and other such nefarious activities online can negatively impact human rights.

Workers also are threatened by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) where humans are replaced by machine.  While China is often blamed for taking American jobs, the evidence shows that most job losses have occurred from automation, not from cheaper labor overseas. 

Big data analytics also can be a two-edged sword. Predictive policing, for example, can be used to oppress human rights as well as being used to help monitor human rights violations via government surveillance and instant communication via mass media and social media can spread fake news and disinformation.

A related challenge is the pace of technological change. It is often those who have the least resources who are most ill-equipped to cope with changes.  This can lead to great disruption of families and regions.  It is thus important that governments work hard to ensure that that benefits of economic development accruing as a result of technological change flow to all parts of society.

While we can all applaud the aspirations contained in covenants about human rights, it must also be realized that there must be changes within society and inside the hearts and minds of people if the change outside is to take place. 

Otherwise, we are in danger of leaving certain groups of people behind and maybe even making things worse. The human rights goals in an Information Age cannot be achieved by education or knowledge alone. They require ongoing commitment, action and learning from experience as we develop the wisdom to use this new technology wisely and for the benefit of all.

Eugene Clark is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.keyanhelp.cn/opinion/eugeneclark.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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