Volume 4 | 2021

Greetings, This newsletter edition reflects about the insights derived during the Access to Remedy in Tech consultation this autumn. We also share additional documentation on a recent dialogue between the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and tech executives as well as a consultation on building blocks for tech regulation during the annual Business & Human Rights Forum, a panel discussion on state-business nexus relationships in the tech sector at the Internet Governance Forum as well as a kick-off consultation on the gender dimension of the B-Tech Project. The B-Tech team is wishing you happy holidays and all the best for the New Year.

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Updates from the B-Tech Project

Access to Remedy in Tech: Take-aways from our September consultation

Read the Consultation Report: Access to Remedy in the Technology Sector Session 1: Remedying adverse human rights impacts of technology companies through the courts Watch the video recording Session 2: State-based non-judicial mechanisms and their contribution to access to remedy in cases of tech-related human rights abuses Watch the video recording Session 3: Understanding the perspectives and needs of affected stakeholders when attempting to seek remedies Watch the video recording Session 4: The role of technology companies in remedying human rights harms connected to their products and services Watch the video recording

UN Business & Human Rights Forum consultation: Building blocks for tech regulation – a Business & Human Rights approach B-Tech hosted an expert consultation in cooperation with the Geneva Academy during the 10th Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights.  The consultation discussed the regulatory landscape: approaches by States aiming at protecting human rights in the context of digital technologies and with regard to business conduct building blocks for regulatory options for States to incentivize the tech sector to fulfil their responsibility to respect human rights Panelists: Anita Ramasastry, UN Working Group on Business & Human Rights Diana Vlad-Calcic, European Commission Owen Bennett, Mozilla Abdul Abdulrahim, Oxford University Dept. Computer Science/Stears, Nigeria Sebastian Smart, NHRI of Chile Imane Bello, Lawyer at the Paris Bar & Lecturer at Sciences Po Giovanni De Gregorio, Oxford University Faculty of Law Moderator: Lene Wendland, OHCHR The recording is available here. Read the summary note here.

New blog: Empowering human rights in the State-business nexus - Digital technologies and human rights due diligence  An increasing number of information and communications technology companies are using human rights due diligence processes as part of their commitment to respect human rights. However, ongoing challenges, including confidentiality concerns, hinder the development of best practices around HRDD when it comes to sensitive business decisions that involve States as customers or partners. The blog discusses ways forward and points out a set of recommendations. Read more here. Company Community of Practice: Leadership Dialogue with tech executives B-Tech convened a dialogue between technology executives and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The dialogue focussed on: Creating a corporate governance and culture that allows to ensure that risks to human rights connected to the design, development, and use of their products and services are identified and addressed. Advancing actions to tackle systemic issues underpinning the use of digital technologies in ways that harm human rights. Read more here.

Consultation: Gender in the technology sector and the role of companies Through their powerful position across many markets, global and regional technology companies hold important strings to shape the way in which digital technologies impact women and bear the potential to adjust their processes in a rights-respecting manner. The consultation examined how technology companies’ responsibilities towards women and girls apply with regard to online impacts and discussed a roadmap for B-Tech's engagement on the gender going forward. Read the concept note here.

B-Tech at IGF 2021 At IGF's 16th edition taking place in Katowice, Poland, B-Tech hosted a session on protecting human rights in the state-business nexus, with a particular emphasis on public-private partnerships, in cooperation with the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and Privacy International. Panelists: Moira Oliver, Vodafone Théo Jaekel, Ericsson Lucie Audibert, Privacy International Sebastian Smart, NHRI of Chile Deniz Utlu, NHRI of Chile & GANHRI B&HR working group Moderator: Henry Peck, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre  Watch the recording on YouTube here and read the summary note here. Read more about Privacy International's safeguards for public-private surveillance partnerships.

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