SIHR submission to UN highlights AI and surveillance risks for human rights defenders
A submission by Skyline International for Human Rights warns that AI systems, surveillance tools and cybercrime laws are increasingly used to target activists and journalists across regions.
Skyline International for Human Rights (SIHR) has submitted input to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as part of a consultation on protecting human rights defenders in the digital age, conducted under Human Rights Council Resolution 58/23.
Published on 23 March 2026, the submission examines how digital technologies are being used to target human rights defenders (HRDs) and journalists, particularly across the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region.
The report points to a convergence of digital risks, including the use of AI, surveillance infrastructure, cybercrime laws and platform governance failures. According to SIHR, these tools are used to monitor, discredit and suppress individuals engaged in human rights work.
A key concern is the use of AI-enabled systems in military operations, where digital data and online activity may be incorporated into targeting processes. The submission also highlights the role of cloud infrastructure and digital services in enabling such operations.
Beyond conflict settings, SIHR documents the use of cybercrime and national security legislation to criminalise online expression, including social media activity. It also notes the deployment of digital forensic tools and spyware across multiple countries to access personal data and monitor activists.
The report further identifies the impact of internet shutdowns, which can restrict access to information and limit the ability of journalists and civil society to document events.
SIHR calls for stronger international safeguards, including accountability for AI-assisted operations, clearer limits on surveillance technologies and recognition of internet shutdowns as violations of fundamental rights.
