UN Special Rapporteur’s report on the regulation of user-generated content online
PUBLISHED: APRIL 6, 2018
In this 2018 report to the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, addresses the regulation of user-generated online content.
Kaye recommends that States ensure an enabling environment for online freedom of expression and that companies apply human rights standards at all stages of their operations. Human rights law gives companies the tools to articulate their positions in ways that respect democratic norms and counter authoritarian demands. At a minimum, he argues, companies and States should pursue radically improved transparency, from rule-making to enforcement of the rules, to ensure user autonomy as individuals increasingly exercise fundamental rights online.