Corporate Responsibility in the Age of Surveillance: How IT Companies Undermine Freedom of Expression

Abstract

The advent of Information technology in the twenty-first Century has revolutionized the ability of individuals to access information and the opportunity to participate in different affairs of government. While this has been one of the remarkable features of the digital age, parallel developments such as the use of surveillance, blocking and filtering internet sites, infringement of individual privacy rights and cyber attacks continue to have a chilling effect on the effective utility of the technology. In particular, the use of the internet as a major means of communication has expanded the range and amount of information that can be monitored by governments. One of the worrying trends in this regard has been the issue of cyber surveillance. Human Rights Watch notes that new communications tools like Voice over Internet Protocol, chat, email, and social media services can be intercepted. Governments can easily gather information to monitor the political activities of individuals

Keywords: Freedom of Expression, Surveillance