The Human Rights Commission seeks to safeguard people's digital rights through a Declaration to enshrine them. The need for the enactment of this legislative text was underlined in Parliament, where, among other things, it was mentioned that children have a digital footprint before they even speak.
The Declaration, which was discussed at today's session of the Human Rights Committee and will be reviewed in two weeks, includes 45 articles, aimed at protecting citizens from risks associated with artificial intelligence, digital surveillance, the use of personal data and the operation of online platforms.
In fact, the Declaration links the rights to a specific implementation mechanism: mapping of gaps in six months, a National Action Plan and a package of measures in twelve months, a public register of high-impact systems, impact assessments, terms in public procurement, coordination of the competent authorities and annual public accountability to the Parliament. It also provides for a review every three years and an institutional dialogue for possible constitutional consolidation, without prejudging its form or content.
Among other things, the Declaration includes:
1. Right to challenge AI decisions
The citizen will have the right to request human intervention and substantial review by a competent person with sufficient authority, to change an automated decision of great importance and impact.
2. Child protection and appropriate digital environment
Increased personal data protection and measures against the addictive design of platforms are envisaged.
Children are effectively protected from cyberbullying, grooming, sextortion, non-consensual dissemination of personal material, sexual and/or other exploitation and child sexual abuse material, including realistic or synthetic material generated by artificial intelligence.
3. Protection against deepfakes and digital impersonation
Provision is made for the labelling of synthetic content, the rapid removal or restriction of misleading material and the possibility of redress for victims of digital impersonation, with guarantees for information and satire.
4. Limitations on digital monitoring
The use of spyware, communications surveillance, geolocation and biometric surveillance are subject to strict conditions of legality, proportionality and independent control.
5. Digital public administration, open state and transparent algorithms
The administration applies the principle of minimum necessary collection and avoids re-requesting data that it can legally and securely obtain. It promotes open, high-quality data, transparency of the systems it uses and full justification of any decision affecting rights.
The administration operates in a transparent manner and maintains an accessible central register of algorithms;
6. Digital right to work and right to disconnect
Protection of rest timeoutside agreed working hours is provided, as well as human supervision of hiring, evaluation, remuneration and dismissal decisions taken with algorithmic systems.
7. Right against digital platforms
A timely and free objection mechanism, human oversight, impartial examination and, where provided, access to certified out-of-court resolution are provided. A reasonable recovery of data and content is permitted upon account closure, unless this is contrary to a lawful and necessary prohibition.
8. Transparency in political ads
Disclosure of the financing, targeting and use of automated accounts or synthetic content in political communication is foreseen.
9. Human crisis in health and social benefits
Critical medical and administrative decisions should not rely solely on automated systems without a legal basis and adequate safeguards.
10. Opens a debate on the constitutional safeguarding of digital rights
An institutional dialogue is foreseen to examine whether and how digital rights could be explicitly enshrined in the Constitution.
The Declaration provides that within six months the executive power is invited to submit a mapping of the legal and institutional framework for digital rights. At the same time, that within twelve months it is called upon to submit a National Action Plan, with specific protection measures.
The Cyprus Declaration is broader than the European Declaration
Aristotelis Constantinides, Professor of the University of Cyprus and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), pointed out that the Cypriot declaration is broader than the European Declaration
Mr. Konstantinidis praised the group for the declaration, describing it as excellent and said that it includes "the human alternative as a right, the public register of algorithms, the extremely important Article 41 for impact assessments".
It is very important, he said, that a National Action Plan is also provided.
In addition, the professor at the Department of Communication and Internet Studies of CUT, Gianna Danidou, welcomed the Declaration and added, among other things, that "a child can have a digital footprint before he even starts talking", while referring to the existence of child influencers.
Professor at European University Cyprus, Haris Xinari, said that it is very important that provision is made for an Action Plan as well as the establishment of an observatory.
Athena Michailidou: The protection of children is a priority
The priority is children, their protection and all-round development, underlined the Minister of Education, Athena Michailidou.
He also referred to the value of multiple literacies, such as digital and algorithmic. As well as ensuring academic integrity as well as ensuring critical thinking.
The Minister also pointed out the need to strengthen digital capacity.
National Action Plan within 12 months
The chairman of the Human Rights Committee, Christos Christofides, referred to a historic day for the House of Representatives, pointing out that the House is called upon "to discuss in a unified and specific way the protection of our rights where we increasingly live, work, learn, communicate and trade: in the digital environment".
The Declaration we have before us, he said, is a political and institutional commitment of the Parliament and a fundamental road map.
"It does not replace the Constitution, EU and international law or existing legislation, nor does it create new sanctions or independent actionable claims on its own. That distinction is essential. Its strength will be judged by its implementation. Following its adoption, the text calls on the executive to submit to the Parliament, within six months, a mapping of the legal and institutional framework and, within twelve months, a National Action Plan with specific measures. The Parliament must monitor the course, control the executive power and proceed with the necessary legislative regulations. The Parliament can also take specific initiatives on the basis of our constitutional competences, with law proposals, to fill gaps in the legislation on the basis of the Declaration we are examining."
