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Human rights defenders are continuously at risk of violence, intimidation and surveillance as a direct consequence of the work they do, with women or those opposing large corporations bearing the brunt of these forms of repression.

Privacy International spoke to four activists based in Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa to learn more about their understanding and experiences of surveillance. Their testimonies illustrate how the promises that came with innovation and the use of new technologies have not been enjoyed by all equally, and how some groups in society - such as human rights defenders - have experienced the impact of surveillance and the exploitation of data by governments and companies more severely than others.

Below is an outline of the main issues that these four activists brought to our attention which reflect the concerns raised previously by other organisations and HRDs across the world.

Privacy International filed a complaint urging the National Crime Agency to investigate the facilitation of surveillance of Bahraini activists by Gamma International UK

Privacy International submitted a dossier to the National Crime Agency requesting the investigation of the interception of an Ethiopian activist's communications

Privacy International made a complaint challenging the export of surveillance software developed by a German company to Bahrain

After a complaint submitted by Privacy International, Gamma International UK was found in breach of OECD Guidelines

The case concerns an alleged smear campaign against Ismayilova, a well-known investigative journalist.

Mass surveillance can subject a population or significant component thereof to indiscriminate monitoring, involving a systematic interference with people’s right to privacy and all the rights that privacy enables, including the freedom to express yourself and to protest.

PI together with ARTICLE 19 intervened at the European Court of Human Rights to submit that digital device seizures and extraction performed at the border interfere with the rights to privacy and freedom of expression, in particular when performed on journalists.

Picture of the Inter-American Court courtroom

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights holds Colombia accountable for arbitrary intelligence activities against human rights defenders. PI filed an amicus in this case challenging the surveillance of human rights defenders in Colombia.

A slide from a presentation given by the Spanish police that states: The future is to use MALWARE.

PI and 5 other human rights organisations call on the European Ombudsman to investigate evidence that several EU bodies are supporting surveillance in non-EU countries in breach of EU rules.