Background

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Global trends reveal a concerning rise in repressive internet regulation models that prioritize excessive control, often manifesting through pervasive surveillance, stringent censorship, and severe internet restrictions. This trend is frequently justified under the guise of "internet sovereignty." In this challenging environment, tech companies committed to upholding human rights are increasingly finding themselves in difficult positions. These companies struggle to navigate legislative gaps and face significant barriers due to the limited capacity of civil society organizations, particularly in the ICT sector. According to the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB), a significant gap exists in the implementation of HRIAs among tech companies in Asia. Less than 20% of these companies have conducted comprehensive HRIAs, and only around 10% have made these assessments public. This lack of transparency and commitment is alarming. This gap is further compounded by the fact that nearly 70% of civil society organizations in the region report lacking the resources and expertise needed to independently conduct HRIAs that could proactively identify and address potential human rights violations before they escalate into critical issues requiring remediation.

 

ARTICLE 19 and Ranking Digital Rights to address these challenges, have developed a pioneering shadow HRIA methodology known as the Community Assessment of the Rights Impacts in the Tech Industry (CLARITI). This innovative approach is rooted in community needs and is designed to empower civil society to conduct independent, shadow-based assessments. CLARITI enables communities to identify and flag potential human rights concerns early, providing a crucial tool for preemptive action in contexts where traditional HRIAs may be hindered by systemic obstacles. This tool is particularly critical in Asia, where less than 15% of civil society-led HRIAs result in any form of corporate or governmental action, highlighting the urgent need for more robust and accessible assessment methodologies like CLARITI.

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Objectives​​

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The session's objective is to introduce the new HRIA tool, review the challenges and accomplishments during the pilot phase, and provide insights into the tool's rationale for creation. By the end of this session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to utilize the CLARITI tool in their own contexts and the potential impacts on policy and advocacy efforts.

This session contributes to the Forum's emphasis on peer-learning by providing actionable insights into how civil society can independently assess and address human rights impacts in the tech industry.

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Key questions

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At the session, we will discuss the typical challenges that civil society may encounter, including resistance from technology companies that may be reluctant to share data or engage, restrictions in accessing certain data, and legal barriers specific to certain regions that may affect analysis efforts.

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Session partners