Summary of an Experts Consultation on Human Rights, Digital Technologies, and Elections

The meeting brought together representatives from UN bodies, civil society, academia, and election oversight institutions. Participants agreed that while digital technologies can improve electoral access and administration, they also pose serious threats to human rights, including privacy, freedom of expression, participation in public affairs, and equality, as well as democratic accountability if left unregulated. Discussions focused on three core areas: the role of national authorities, the conduct of political parties, and the responsibilities of private companies.

The meeting examined how electoral management bodies (EMBs) regulate and deploy election technology. Participants emphasized the need for legal frameworks that guarantee data privacy, prevent discrimination, and ensure independent oversight.

Firstly, concerns were raised about EMB’ reliance on opaque vendor contracts and inadequate audit procedures. For example it was noted that EMBs increasingly rely on private vendors for digital tools such as biometric registration systems and vote-counting software. Yet many contracts are governed by non-disclosure agreements shielding essential processes from public scrutiny.

The discussion on political campaigning highlighted how political parties increasingly use personal data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for microtargeting. Recommendations included expanded transparency, cross-agency collaboration, and internal accountability within political parties, especially around online voting practices.

Lastly, looking at the private sector’s role, particularly technology vendors and social media platforms, concerns were raised on  “vendor lock-in" (where a government becomes dependent on a single private company for essential election infrastructure, limiting its ability to switch providers or access its data without that vendor’s cooperation), as well as limited accountability, and data fusion risks between state-managed and commercial systems. Calls were made for human rights clauses in procurement, clearer data governance, and stronger platform responsiveness.

Session participants stressed the need to embed human rights due diligence, transparency, and consultation throughout the electoral cycle.

This report summarises the discussion among the experts and identifies recommendations and resources to support legal and policy reforms aligning electoral technologies with human rights standards.