Establish clear company terms of service which are understandable to local users,
setting out what information the company collects and stores and under what legal
justification that information can be accessed by the government.
Software
There are many different kinds of software, but the focus of this chapter is the tools that
can aid surveillance; that is, the software that can be added to a telecommunications
network in order to increase surveillance capabilities.
Do not sell surveillance software to Myanmar. Surveillance software is not a new
issue for Myanmar. As far back as 2000 it was reported that Burmese exiles were
being targeted with malware. However, this kind of technology has advanced rapidly
in recent years. While the goal of the military government in the 2000’s may have
been to stop information exchange or communication by freezing computers or taking
websites offline, viruses, malware and spyware contained in infected emails are now
capable of doing much more intrusive surveillance. Companies selling surveillance
equipment, whether ‘off the shelf’ or bespoke services are under particular scrutiny
due to the clear implications for human rights. 401 Sellers of such technologies often
justify their use by saying they are intended to support law enforcement or protect the
public welfare (e.g. through protecting against terrorist activity), but they often can also
be used to facilitate human rights violations by the purchasers. There are currently
debates in Europe about tightening export controls to restrict the kinds of surveillance
technology that can be exported, particularly to governments with a poor human rights
record. 402 Due to the lack of legal framework around surveillance, interception and
privacy protections, Myanmar should be a no-go area for companies selling
surveillance technology. 403
D. Relevant International Standards on Surveillance and
Lawful Interception
Relevant International Standards:
International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications
Surveillance (Necessary and Proportionate Principles) 2014
Relevant Guidance:
Universal Implementation Guide for the International Principles on the
Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance (2015)
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Human Rights and Technology Sales:
How Corporations Can Avoid Assisting Repressive Regimes (2012).
401
See commentary by the Chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct,
“Responsible Business Conduct in Cyberspace” (30 April 2015).
402 For example, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is working on a data collection
program in support of the European Commission’s ongoing impact assessment for the review of the EU dualuse regulation.
403 For more guidance, see Tech UK “Assessing CyberSecurity Export Risks“ (2014).
CHAPTER 4.4: SURVEILLANCE –
LAWFUL INTERCEPTION & OTHER SURVEILLANCE METHODS
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4.4