Data protection pursuant to the right to privacy in human rights treaties

Abstract

This paper examines the extent to which the basic principles of data protection laws may he read into provisions in human rights treaties proclaiming a right to privacy. Two such provisions are analysed in detail: Art 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Art 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Case law developed pursuant to both provisions indicates that each has the potential to embrace all of the core principles typically found in data protection laws. However, this case law currently falls short of data protection laws in terms of both ambit and prescriptory guidance. Show more