Climate crisis and digital rights: Can universal rights to dignity and privacy withstand the consequences of climate change in the coming decades?

Side event organised by the European Data Protection Supervisor at 41st International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, Tirana

When: Tuesday 22 October 4.30-5.30 pm
Where: Palace of Congresses, Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit, Tirana

In recent years, one million refugees from conflict zones including Syria endured great personal suffering to seek a new life in the stable democracies of Europe. This contributed to considerable disruption of political discourse in the host countries. Similar events have unfolded in other regions. A typical policy response has been to apply surveillance and control technologies such as collection of biometrics and location tracking. As climate change intensifies and conflict and displacement become more likely, poorer areas of the world will be the hardest hit, placing the notion of universal human rights under greater pressure than perhaps ever before. Multiple tiers of entitlement could emerge, with vulnerable migrants and refugees increasingly the objects of surveillance and control.  This panel will look at likely scenarios in the next 10-30 years and how to prevent the fracturing of human rights as collateral damage of global warming.

Speakers:

• Patricia Adusei-Poku, Executive Director, Ghana Data Protection Commission
• Mario Oetheimer – Deputy Head of Research and Data Unit, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights
• Pam Dixon, Executive Director, World Privacy Forum
• Christina Vasala Kokkinaki – Legal Officer, International Organisation for Migration
• Massimo Marelli – Head of Data Protection Office, International Committee of the Red Cross

Moderated by Christian D'Cunha, Head of Private Office, European Data Protection Supervisor