Amman – The National Center for Human Rights (NCHR) called for coordinated international efforts to investigate allegations concerning the hacking of personal communication devices belonging to numerous individuals around the world through systems and technologies developed by major companies.
In a press statement, the Center emphasized that international human rights standards guarantee the right to private life (privacy). At the national level, the right to privacy is constitutionally protected under Article 18 of the Jordanian Constitution. Jordanian legislation also safeguards this right and criminalizes violations of it.
The following is the full text of the statement:
In light of the information and allegations circulating regarding the hacking of personal devices belonging to numerous individuals worldwide through systems and technologies developed by major companies, the National Center for Human Rights affirms that international human rights standards guarantee the right to private life (privacy).
Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) stipulates that “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation.”
Furthermore, the United Nations Human Rights Committee, established under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has affirmed that protecting correspondence and communications conducted through telecommunications systems constitutes an essential component of the right to privacy. The Committee has also emphasized that any surveillance must be conducted for a specific purpose and be subject to the supervision of an independent judicial authority.
The Committee further stressed that ensuring the protection of this right requires addressing violations, whether committed by state authorities, individuals, or legal entities.
It also noted that reports submitted by States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights often fail to provide sufficient information on how legislative, administrative, and judicial authorities, as well as other competent state institutions, ensure respect for this right.
At the national level, the right to privacy enjoys constitutional protection under Article 18 of the Jordanian Constitution. Jordanian laws also safeguard this right, criminalize infringements upon it, and, in accordance with general legal principles, require compensation for damages resulting from such violations.
To protect the right to privacy, the National Center for Human Rights calls for concerted international efforts to investigate the allegations concerning these hacking incidents and to adopt the necessary legal and technical measures at both the national and international levels to put an end to such practices.
