Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 1: David Kaye, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Moret Erica, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Gupta Apar, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Moret Erica, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Gupta Apar, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The session aims to highlight emerging themes about an issue that has remained under-discussed in global policy circles. Keeping in view this, it would be useful to have a few experts in the roundtable format to allow them enough time to talk about regional nuances. Furthermore, the question-and-answer/comments session towards the end will help international audience working on similar issues to ask questions from the speakers and share perspective on the discussion being held there.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The session aims to highlight emerging themes about an issue that has remained under-discussed in global policy circles. Keeping in view this, it would be useful to have a few experts in the roundtable format to allow them enough time to talk about regional nuances. Furthermore, the question-and-answer/comments session towards the end will help international audience working on similar issues to ask questions from the speakers and share perspective on the discussion being held there.
Policy Question(s)
What are the challenges surrounding the use of surveillance technology in Global South?
What has been the role of national governments in regulating the sale of the commercially available surveillance tools?
How can different stakeholders work together to ensure that cyber surveillance tools are used proportionately in line with international best practices?
What will participants gain from attending this session? The session will help the participants develop a better understanding about the variety of challenges posed by surveillance technologies in the global south. It will also help draw parallels between how private sector, governments and civil society respond to the issue of surveillance tech accountability in the global south compared to those in the global north. This will eventually help them understand the potential opportunities for effectively engaging with Global South stakeholders on these issues.
Description:
In July 2021, an investigation by the Forbidden Stories (an international journalism consortium) and Amnesty International revealed how a spyware named Pegasus was used to target 189 journalists, 85 human rights defenders, over 600 politicians and government officials (including cabinet ministers and diplomats) across the globe. Following these revelations, there has been a global push towards accountability of surveillance technology. Rights groups have called for a complete ban on these tools with some seeking accountability of the government authorities and private companies for enabling their misuse. US took the lead in blacklisting NSO group and three other cyber-surveillance companies while the UK and France launched the Pall Mall Process in February 2024 to start conversation on ethical oversight of these technologies. Despite this, surveillance remains a booming industry. Over 500 companies continue to develop, market and sell surveillance tools to Governments, some of which have been acquired by around 65 governments globally, including in the Global South. While the global discussions on ethical considerations for surveillance technology have predominantly focused on the Global North, very limited conversations have taken place from the Global South’s perspective despite reported use of similar tech in those regions. The proposed workshop is an attempt to bridge the gap and highlight the Global South’s perspective on surveillance technology, its wider socioeconomic and political implications on the region. Through a discussion among two civil society civil representatives and one industry and the government representative each, it will also unpack the challenges with implementing the Global North’s solutions and attempt to identify nuanced solutions for mitigating risks from surveillance
In July 2021, an investigation by the Forbidden Stories (an international journalism consortium) and Amnesty International revealed how a spyware named Pegasus was used to target 189 journalists, 85 human rights defenders, over 600 politicians and government officials (including cabinet ministers and diplomats) across the globe. Following these revelations, there has been a global push towards accountability of surveillance technology. Rights groups have called for a complete ban on these tools with some seeking accountability of the government authorities and private companies for enabling their misuse. US took the lead in blacklisting NSO group and three other cyber-surveillance companies while the UK and France launched the Pall Mall Process in February 2024 to start conversation on ethical oversight of these technologies. Despite this, surveillance remains a booming industry. Over 500 companies continue to develop, market and sell surveillance tools to Governments, some of which have been acquired by around 65 governments globally, including in the Global South. While the global discussions on ethical considerations for surveillance technology have predominantly focused on the Global North, very limited conversations have taken place from the Global South’s perspective despite reported use of similar tech in those regions. The proposed workshop is an attempt to bridge the gap and highlight the Global South’s perspective on surveillance technology, its wider socioeconomic and political implications on the region. Through a discussion among two civil society civil representatives and one industry and the government representative each, it will also unpack the challenges with implementing the Global North’s solutions and attempt to identify nuanced solutions for mitigating risks from surveillance
Expected Outcomes
The session will be a culmination of a scoping study on cyber intrusion that is already taking place in South Asia (January-June 2025). In the short term, the organiser will produce a policy brief capturing key themes that would emerge in the discussion to share with relevant stakeholders. In the mid-term, the session will lay the basis for further discussions in refining the scope of upcoming research in the region (September 2025 and beyond) on surveillance and ensure that they offer a holistic perspective going forward.
Hybrid Format: Onsite moderator will have enough support to interact with online speakers and attendees.
Keeping enough time in mind to ask question to online speaker and address questions from online attendees.