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Stop privacy intrusion
A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.
Category: Human Rights
Strength: Strong
Proposed by: Petkania
Description: We feel alarmed by the increasing intrusion of privacy by the governments in the world. Therefore, we propose that legislation is passed by each UN member that all personal communication, including, but not limited to: face-to-face conversations, mail, telephone, radio, LAN and Internet shall NOT be intercepted by the government, unless there is serious evidence of a planned or committed crime. This evidence shall be reviewed and approved by the Judiciary before eavesdropping, phone tapping, network traffic monitoring, and other kinds of interception of communications is allowed.
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The Democratic States of Admaria opposes this resolution. Admaria has a long history of freedom of information, and we agree with Brother Lal that "Freedom of Information is the only safeguard against tyranny." However, this resolution would prevent us from monitoring conversations in public areas. Without the government surveillance, regularly posted on the Internet, members of the press would be unable to report on matters of public interest which occur every day.
Admaria recognizes that some are concerned with government oppression. However, this system has worked for years in Admaria with little government interference. And most of our citizens feel secure, knowing that if they are mugged on a public street the cameras will pick it up. Are our law enforcement officers to be barred from looking at such a film because a conversation is going on in the background?
The action most in accord with individual rights is not protection of some ambiguous "privacy." The individual right to know, whether one is a private citizen or a government official, is paramount. To say that this basic right ought to be limited because of some individuals' personal preferences for secrecy is to go against everything Admaria stands for.
Admaria recognizes that many nations have a different view. In fact, we encourage citizens who feel more comfortable knowing they are not watched to emigrate to those nations, if they so wish. But this resolution would enforce a blanket standard on all UN members. Nations valuing curiosity would be held to the same standard as nations valuing privacy. For this reason, Admaria urges even those nations who believe in different standards, who believe in the privacy of their own citizens, to vote no on this resolution, becuase it would mean the coercive imposition of standards of privacy on nations who have learned to disregard them.
Admaria welcomes further debate on this issue.
