Brazil and Germany, frustrated with what they claim is America’s unwarranted surveillance operations on their countries’ top leaders, have turned to the United Nations for redress and petitioned the global body to outright declare Internet privacy a right.
What they’re basing their logic on is the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, penned in 1966 and entered into force a decade later, The Daily Mail reported. One clause reads: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honor and reputation.” Another portion guarantees that “everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”
Now officials with Germany and Brazil want to extend those rights and protections to cover the Internet, The Daily Mail reported. They want the United Nations to pass a general resolution that says Internet privacy is a right.
The call comes on the heels of recent revelations that the U.S. National Security Agency has snooped on Chancellor Angela Merkel, and on scores of other national allies. The White House, meanwhile, has denied any phone-tapping of Ms. Merkel — but dodges the question of whether such spying has ever gone forth.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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