France: UN privacy expert announces fact-finding visit

France: UN privacy expert announces fact-finding visit

GENEVA (9 November 2017) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Joseph Cannataci, will carry out his first official visit to France from 13 to 17 November, to explore issues including security, surveillance and the use of personal data by private corporations.

“I will pay special attention to the newly approved counter-terrorism legislation and discuss the need to strictly respect the right to privacy, among other human rights, in the efforts made by France to protect its population from the threat of terrorism,” said the Special Rapporteur.

He will also examine the use of big data, open data, and health information.

“As a highly developed and influential democracy, France has a leadership role to play in relation to the right to privacy,” said the Special Rapporteur. “During my visit I will discuss with the French Government ways to advance the protection and promotion of the right to privacy both in the context of counter-terrorism and in relation to the use of private data by corporations” the expert added.

Mr Cannataci, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advise on the promotion and protection of the right to privacy around the world in the digital age, will also study good practices that can serve as an example to other countries.

During his five-day mission, he will meet representatives of the French Government, the private sector and civil society organizations working on the right to privacy.

A press conference to share the Special Rapporteur’s preliminary findings will be held on Friday, 17 November, at the René Cassin room of the Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme (CNCDH), located at 35 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, at 15:00 local time. Access will be strictly limited to accredited and registered journalists. For registration, please contact Ms Charline Thiery (charline.tiery@cncdh.fr).

The independent expert will present a comprehensive report containing his findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2019.

ENDS

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