Human rights impact assessment of digital activities

Purpose

The fast pace of innovation and technological development in the digital sphere has led to a new generation of human rights challenges. Technology and non-tech companies active in the digital ecosystem that seek to improve their business conduct are confronted with a lack of guidance, tools and accumulated knowledge to refer to when assessing and addressing the human rights impacts of their digital activities. This project aims to fill the gap by building on the Institute’s award-winning work on Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA).

The difference we make

The assessment of human rights impacts of business activities is considered a key component of the corporate responsibility to respect and corporate human rights due diligence, as outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

After decades of digitalisation, virtually all major companies have a footprint in the digital ecosystem today. At the same time, an increasing number of actors, from civil society to intra-governmental organisations, are calling for companies to conduct human rights impact assessments in relation to their digital activities. Among others, the UN Special Rapporteur, David Kaye, highlighted in 2018 the crucial role of HRIA in the design and deployment process of new digital product to maintain effective freedom of opinion and expression. Yet there has been a shortage of guidance available for companies who aim to act responsibility and with respect for human rights.

In response to this, the Danish Institute for Human Rights has developed new practical guidance for businesses, and other actors, on how to conduct human rights impact assessment of digital activities. Building on our award-winning methodology on human rights impact assessment, the Institute has drawn on our own experience and collaborated with a wide range of external stakeholders, including companies, to create accessible and practical guidance for the private sector and other users of digital technologies.

By identifying key human rights impacts and challenges related to a wide range of digital activities, the project will equally contribute to the development of the knowledge base and regulatory standards on human rights and digital technologies.

Considering that human rights impact assessment of digital activities is an emerging field, the Institute also hopes to inspire conversations and dialogue around the human rights impacts of digital activities. We welcome all input and feedback on how the guidance can be further improved.