Thank you Mr. President,

The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the EU statement and we thank the High Commissioner for his report. 

Mr. High Commissioner,
We are alarmed by the clear evidence your report confronts us with. It shows how data-driven technologies, if left unchecked, perpetuate discrimination and undermine the enjoyment of the right to privacy. This not only infringes upon the human rights of individuals, but it deepens existing inequalities, fosters exclusion and deprives individuals, regions and communities of equal protection and participation in the digital age. 

The Kingdom of the Netherlands shares your concern that innovation must not come at the expense of human rights. States and private sector actors must ensure that data-driven technologies are developed and deployed in full compliance with international human rights law. Human rights should not only be the guardrails of new and emerging technologies but the blueprint on which they are build. We, therefore, welcome the report’s recommendations that strong regulatory frameworks, enforcement capacities and effective oversight should be established.

High Commissioner,

Your report underlines the need for sustained, comprehensive whole-of-society efforts. Yet too often, initiatives remain fragmented, pursued in isolation, and lacking coordination. How, according to you, can we most effectively break down these silos and foster this comprehensive, whole of society approach?