On October 16, 2017, Public Knowledge, Article 19, and Access Now issued a joint statement of concern about the recent proposal to expand the mandate of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – a United Nations communication agency – to include regulating international privacy policies. Under the proposal, the ITU would drive the regulation and establishment of an international framework for privacy-related issues. The proposal was put forward by “Brazil, Mexico, a regional group of Arab States, and another regional group formed by Russia and many former Soviet republics.”

According to the joint statement, the ITU lacks the necessary privacy expertise as well as a transparent organizational structure, which would limit civil society’s input into the policymaking process. Additionally, the ITU could become vulnerable to “harmful types of politicization” led by states and regional groups seeking to advance their control over digital space. Join the discussion on the ITU by contacting Article 19.