RightsCon Tunis 2019

When data becomes a trade commodity, privacy is treated as a trade barrier. Policymakers are using this logic, and therefore privacy and data protection rules are undermined by binding, enforceable trade agreements. Trade deals containing data governance rules are crafted by technology companies who are the only stakeholders represented in the negotiations. Appearing first in the Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP), these rules constrain how countries regulate the cross- border transfer of data. Since the TPP, these rules have emerged in a growing number of bilateral, plurilateral, and regional trade agreements. This is despite the fact that such provisions directly undermine nations' human rights obligations. Furthermore, these rules could worsen competition between platform companies as they grow to become international data monopolies. This session will collectively map and strategize a way forward to influence trade policy making on behalf of digital rights organizations and all those who defend our human rights on the internet. The highlight will be a facilitated discussion about what each person can do to get involved to defend privacy and fight for a more diverse internet economy worldwide.