Mass surveillance systems, designed to enhance security, have become pervasive in modern societies. However, their implementation raises profound concerns about individual privacy and human rights. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights, Ben Emmerson, highlighted that such programs, like the NSA's Prism and GCHQ's Tempora, "pose a direct and ongoing challenge to an established norm of international law." jolt.law.harvard.edu These initiatives often operate without sufficient oversight, leading to arbitrary or unlawful interference with individuals' privacy, as protected under Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. jolt.law.harvard.edu
Beyond privacy infringements, mass surveillance can be counterproductive and even endanger human rights. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe noted that these practices "endanger fundamental human rights" and may divert resources from preventing actual terrorist threats. coe.int Additionally, the indiscriminate nature of such surveillance can lead to the suppression of freedom of information and expression, as evidenced by authoritarian regimes using surveillance technologies to track and detain political opponents. voxpol.eu The erosion of public trust in institutions and the weakening of internet security further underscore the detrimental effects of unchecked surveillance practices.