Human Rights in the Digital World

The World Economic Forum's 2023 Global Risks Report pointed to a worrying trend regarding personal privacy in the next decade. The rise of digital presence in daily life and the advancement of new technologies bring increased risks of heightened surveillance and misuse of personal data by both government and private entities. This often happens without adequate anonymity protections or clear consent from the individuals affected. Research shows that by using just 15 demographic attributes, nearly all U.S. residents can be identified from anonymized data. Additionally, in the U.S., there is relatively lax regulation of the sale of data.

The widespread use of data-collecting devices and AI systems that depend on this data could lead to an extraordinary level of control over individual rights and freedoms. In response to these threats to human rights in the digital era, the World Economic Forum's Global Coalition for Digital Safety has developed global principles on digital safety. These principles guide the application of human rights in our increasingly digital world. While planners rely heavily on data for informed decision-making, they must now focus more on privacy and safety rather than solely on efficiency. By doing so, they will build greater trust and cooperation in their communities, ensuring that the solutions they develop are both effective and respectful of individual privacy.