The European Union has warned that arbitrary and unlawful digital surveillance is creating a chilling effect on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, disproportionately affecting women and girls. In a statement delivered on 23 June 2026 at the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the EU welcomed the report of Special Rapporteur Gina Romero and highlighted the risks posed by constant data tracking, legal ambiguity, and collaboration with private tech actors. The statement was issued by the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva.
The EU outlined its own strict limitations on surveillance technology, including a ban on AI-based untargeted facial recognition, biometric categorisation of sensitive traits, and untargeted scraping of facial images. It also cited the Digital Services Act, which mandates risk assessments for online platforms regarding threats to fundamental rights, and the European Media Freedom Act, which introduces safeguards against spyware on media service providers and their staff. The statement emphasised that surveillance must comply with necessity and proportionality principles.
The EU expressed concern that arbitrary surveillance of journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society actors erodes trust, reduces mobilisation, and discourages engagement, thereby weakening collective action and democracy. The statement concluded by asking the Special Rapporteur to identify best practices to address the challenges posed by abuses of new technologies for surveillance.
This is the first time the EU has formally addressed the issue of digital surveillance's impact on assembly and association rights at the Human Rights Council in this session, building on its broader regulatory framework for digital rights and fundamental freedoms.