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November 26, 2014

U.N. Resolution on Spying Weakened by Pressure from U.S., Allies 
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A United Nations panel has adopted a resolution expressing concern about
mass surveillance. The proposal was drafted by Germany and Brazil,
which, according to revelations by Edward Snowden, have both been
subjected to extensive U.S. spying. But the measure was toned down
following pressure from the United States, Britain and other allies. A
reference to the intrusive nature of collecting metadata – details
like which phone numbers are involved in a call and how long the call
lasts – was spiked. Brazil's deputy ambassador to the U.N. said the
measure should have been stronger.

Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota: "We are pleased that consensus was
reached, but it is important to recall the compromises that were made to
achieve such an outcome. References to the principles of necessity and
proportionality were not as strong as they should have been.
Surveillance programs and any activity that poses a threat to human
rights should be necessary and proportionate to the pursuance of
legitimate aims. As some members were not in a position to acknowledge
these basic principles of international law, we could not affirm them in
the strongest of terms."

 

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