The proposed project explores two inter-related aspects of the interplay between international human rights law and new developments in information technology: First, since new information technology allows governments (and other actors) to project, on a routine basis, power extraterritorially (e.g., powers of surveillance over communication and data, and utilisation of cyberspace to harm commercial and military interests located in territories beyond their control), one has to address the application of state obligations in this field in a manner uncorrelated to traditional state boundaries. Second, since advances in information technology are driven, to a large extent, by private commercial entities that establish cyber-networks and communication platforms, and may be abused by private hackers and terrorists, a question arises as to the extent in which governments should regulate the activities of national, foreign and multinational corporations and other actors operating in cyber-space, with a view to protecting individuals against harms to their fundamental rights and interests, and to what extent t non-state cyberactors could and should acquire any direct or indirect responsibilities under international human rights law. This series of innovative questions, which challenge the basic territorial-based and governmentcentred assumptions underlying international human right law is at the heart of their research program, which seeks to reorient existing international law theory and doctrine with a view to confronting the new and extremely pressing challenges of a borderless cyber-space. The collaborative research program will involve close cooperation between two senior international human rights law experts, working with junior researchers in Israel and Germany on research papers, books, workshops and a final conference.
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