RESOURCES

Accession is an act by which a state enters into a legally bound treaty without requiring it to sign, but it has the same legal effect as ratification. The states committed to accession were not involved in making the law. It means the state becomes a party to a treaty already negotiated and signed by other states.

Ratification is an act by which a state enters into a legally bound treaty by signing it. The states committed to ratification were involved in making the law. By ratifying a treaty, a state agrees to put into place domestic measures and legislation compatible with its treaty obligations and to be held accountable for any violations of the treaty.

States commit to succession when new states emerge, and the prior state has ratified the treaty. Although succession carries the same commitment as ratification, it enables recommitting to human rights standards.

In the digital world, algorithms are a sequence of digital instructions used by a computer system to solve a problem or to provide a digital service. According to Parent Zone, an organisation working to make the online world a safer place for families, the data the users provide by interacting with platforms and websites – or via ‘cookies’ downloaded while browsing online – gives information to the algorithm. Examples of information include users’ location, favourite artists, hobbies, and interests. By gathering user information, algorithms can predict what kind of content, advertisement, and service recommendations the users are most likely to read, watch, buy or share.

Algorithms are also used to make decisions based on data and other inputs. For example, decision-making algorithms can be used in finance to analyse market trends and make investment decisions. In healthcare, decision-making algorithms can be used to analyse patient data and make treatment recommendations. In transportation, decision-making algorithms can optimise traffic flow and reduce congestion.

According to the European Commission, biometric data is “Personal data resulting from specific technical processing relating to the physical, physiological or behavioural characteristics of a natural person, which allow or confirm the unique identification of that natural person, such as facial images or dactyloscopic data.” Examples of biometric data include fingerprint mapping, facial recognition, and retina scans.

It is a rule of the meeting that allows the participants to use the information from the discussion but not reveal who discussed it. This rule allows openness of discussion by promoting anonymity of the source. The Royal Institute of International Affairs, commonly known as Chatham House, based in London, England, created the rule.

Convention means a legally binding agreement between states, and it is used synonymously with Treaty and Covenant. When the UN General Assembly adopts a convention, it creates international norms and standards. Once the UN General Assembly adopts a convention, Member States can then ratify the convention to commit to it by putting domestic legislative measures into place.

In UN language, a declaration is a statement of universally applied principles which indicate commitments of the international community. It is not legally binding.

CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a concept that ties a business economic model with environmental and social policies to contribute positively to society. CSR or Sustainability department of a company develops and implements environmental, ethical, and social policies and manages stakeholder engagement with government, NGOs, and communities.

The initiative aims to promote safer and more trustworthy online space through an established Best Practices Framework that addresses content and conduct related online harms. Participating companies commit to these best practices are verified through internal and independent third-party assessment. Major digital companies such as Google, Meta, Apple, and Microsoft are participants of DTSP.

The International Bill of Human Rights is a term used to refer to three key international documents collectively.

• • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. UDHR is not a legally binding treaty but a foundational document that outlines a comprehensive list of fundamental human rights.
  • The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966. The ICCPR focuses on civil and political rights, such as the right to life, freedom of speech, and the right to a fair trial. It is a legally binding treaty, and parties to the covenant commit to respecting and protecting the rights outlined in it.
  • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), adopted in 1966, the ICESCR addresses economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to work, education, and an adequate standard of living. It is a legally binding treaty whose parties commit to promoting and protecting the specified rights.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental organisation with 38 member countries. It was founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. It is a forum whose member countries describe themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a platform to compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practices, and coordinate domestic and international policies of its members. (Wikipedia). Please see OECD for more information.

Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) is a program of the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to build accountability for business performance on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). WBA publishes free and publicly available benchmarks across seven systems transformations and works with allies and industry stakeholders to drive system changes to achieve the SDGs. RDR evaluates and ranks the world’s major digital services and telecommunications operators based on their respect for users’ digital rights. RDR provides tools and resources for shareholders, activists, and consumers to demand transparency and accountability from tech companies and telcos in their policies and practices.