Whereas we come together to reaffirm the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

We recognize then that we live in an age of digital technology and information whereby a person’s digital identity is now an important area of concern for protection and privacy,

We further recognize that Member States must finely balance the modern needs of security of the safety of citizens versus their universal adherence and interpretation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

That to both protect and enhance the strength of Universal Declaration of Human Rights it is clear that some specific device must be instanced capable of enabling all Member States who respect the importance and moral principles of Universal Declaration of Human Rights to find relief,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF DIGITAL PRIVACY AND SECURITY as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these principles and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article (1) Identity

All human beings have unique attributes and characteristics. We have our name, we have our family history, our profession, our education and our relationships.

A persons identity may be defined as the collection and classification of one or more of these unique characteristics into a single impression which in origin and reference refers to an individual human being, whether living or deceased.

Article (2)-Digital information

Digital information is any information concerning objects, data, video, audio or facsimile regarding real world or theoretical objects. Personal digital information is any digital information that pertains to the identity of an individual whether living or deceased.

Article (3)- Rights of Ownership of identity

While there may be many individuals and institutions that for one reason or another make recordings or physical alterations to individuals to represent the unique physical identity of another, by right every human being shall have ownership of their identity. No person, nor institution nor government may make such law or instrument capable of altering this fundamental human right.

No institution, nor company has the right to make copies of a physical person for profit, commerce or transaction without the due consent of the individuals whose identity is being copied. To make such copies without consent is the theft of someones unique and rightful property of identity.

It should be illegal in all nations that the identity of a person be copied without their due consent and approval except in matters of security.

Article (4)-Rights of Ownership of personal digital information

While there may be many individuals and institutions that for one reason or another have the personal digital information of others, the very information itself shall always be the rightful ownership of the individual concerned.

That a company may record my name does not give them ownership of it. Therefore by this Declaration it shall always be known that the keepers of personal digital information are merely custodians of it and must abide by the articles of this Declaration in its good use.

Article (5)-Users and holders of personal digital information

There are a range of moral and sensible reasons why individuals and institutions possess personal digital information of other people. A simple list of favourite contacts on a phone or digital diary is an example. A list of clients is another example. An online phone directory is another example.

For society and communities to function, its citizens must accept that personal digital information needs to be kept, used and processed. A citizen accepting the support of its community must therefore also accept a social duty to support to good use of all resources including personal digital information systems.

Article (6)-Personal digital information and commerce

Accurate personal digital information is an essential component to fair and efficient commerce. This includes the ability to ensure that valid transactions only occur to the valid party and that fraud is minimized.

In agreeing to participate in the commerce of the community, an individual must also accept that certain personal information will need to be kept, used and processed by many different commercial organisations.

Article (7)-Personal digital information and government services

The effective government of any society is dependent upon the strength, sophistication and quality of its personal digital information systems. Extremely well structured digital knowledge systems enable massive government efficiencies and cost savings. In contrast, inefficient and separate government agencies add time and cost to government services.

In seeking improved government from security to efficient health, education and tax services, all citizens must accept that good government requires the storage of certain personal digital information including such important data items as national identity numbers, national corporate identity numbers and other key indexes.

Article (8)-Personal digital information and national security

The advent of urban suicide terrorism and religious radicalism means that many cities and nations face an unknown enemy who is intent on creating terrible destruction and terror on innocent people.

Recent world events have proven just how dangerous this menace has become. As a result, it has become incumbent on government to initiate solutions capable of rendering terrorists inert before they strike.

Personal digital information in this sense is a critical component to the successful elimination of terrorism. Governments depend heavily on the ability to track potential suspects both physically and digitally through sophisticated intelligence mapping programs.

In seeking to live on cities free of terrorist attack and to protect the safety of every free loving person, government must be given the power to analyze and process the personal digital information of all its citizens and visitors.

Article (9)- Rights of privacy of personal digital information

While all of the uses of personal digital information outlined in this Declaration as valid have merit, it remains a fundamental moral principle that the privacy of the individual should be first and foremost the consideration of all civilized societies.

That a society has the technical means to undertake surveillance on some or all of its citizens does not give it the moral right to do so, or continue after a threat has been reduced. For instance, a society might require high surveillance during a period of danger and no surveillance thereafter.

Personal digital information of all kinds should not be captured purely because it can. The collection of information for its own sake without clear purpose should be considered immoral and in some cases a crime when it relates to personal financial information.

Article (10)-Rights of safety of personal digital information and identity

When an individual or corporation stores and uses someone elses personal information they do so as custodians of it. Whether they recognize in written agreement or not, they shall be liable for its safety and protection from theft or miuse.

This applies especially to sensitive personal information as it relates to medical, education, social and other sensitive areas where information may be collected by government or private enterprise specialists.

Article (11)- Collection of personal digital information

Technology now allows the collection of vast amounts of personal digital information without the need for direct contact with an individual or even their physical location. Therefore it is entirely possible to obtain sufficient information by direct and indirect reference on the internet to build a detailed psychological profile.

This being so, it is incumbent upon all civilized people and entities that the collection of personal digital information is firstly for a clear purpose and secondly with some consent of the person who owns the identity.

Therefore, it should be considered a law in all nations that the collection of personal digital information should be by written, oral or electronic consent before being collected and that some disclosure as to its purpose should also be given.

While government in times and matters of security and safety may choose not to disclose the collection of personal digital information and its use, it should be considered a general rule of all government agencies not strictly functioning in a security capacity to be fully disclosing as to the storage and use of personal digital information.

Article (12)- Due diligence in the recorded access and use of personal digital information

It should be a reasonable expectation of all individuals that in matters of the user of their personal digital information that some record of access and use is kept.

This especially includes such organisations and entities that have a commercial or particularly unique relationship with an individual. An individual should always have the right to know who accessed their file and for what purpose, except in matters of national security.

In all other matters, organisations should be compelled by law to keep records and registers of all accesses and uses of personal digital information such that on approval of a freedom of information request all accesses and uses can be disclosed instantly.

Article (13)- Freedom of access to personal digital information

An individual by rights of ownership of their own personal information shall have the right to request and receive access to the files storing their personal information by any institution, individual or government agency.

The granting of permission subject to national security issues should always be on the basis that it is the moral duty and responsibility of a custodian of someones information to provide freedom of access to that individual upon their request.

To deny a person access to their own property is considered immoral and unprincipled and therefore freedom of information shall always be the sign of an enlightened society.