Public Law Studies Quarterly

Smartphones and their Impact on Human Rights and Freedoms: Threat ‎or Opportunity?‎

Document Type : Article

Authors

Elham Aminzadeh 1
Maryam Samsami Mohajer 2

1 Prof‏.‏‎, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, ‎Tehran, Iran‎

2 Ph.D. in International Law, Department of Public Law, Law and Political Sciences Faculty, Tehran ‎University, Tehran, Iran‎

https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2024.365559.3397
Abstract
The smartphones are amont modern technologies that have significantly impacted the way of life of contemporary humans. Accordingly, human rights and freedoms, which remain one of the most important issues in international law, have also been influenced by the widespread use of these communication devices. Therefore, examining the effects of smartphones on human rights is essential. The question is how smartphones affect human rights? Do they jeopardize the enjoyment of these rights and freedoms, or can they create opportunities to facilitate and expedite access to them? Based on the findings of this research, which was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method, the smartphone is a tool that can, on one hand, enhance the enjoyment of certain human rights, while on the other hand, it can create barriers to the exercise of other rights. Consequently, it is necessary for states to take advantage of the opportunities created in this regard based on their international human rights commitments, as well as to address the challenges and threats posed by smartphones.

Keywords

smartphone
right to ‎education
right to equality ‎and non-discrimination
‎right to health
human ‎rights.‎
Subjects

  1. English

    1. A) Books
    2. Reid, A.J. (2018). The Smartphone Paradox. Palgrave Macmillan Cham
    3. Zheng, P. & Ni, L. (2006). Smart Phone and Next Generation Mobile Computing. Elsevier

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Löfquist, L. (2020). Is There a Universal Human Right to Electricity? ,The International Journal of Human Rights, 24(6), 711-723, https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2019.1671355
    3. Al-Barashdi, H.S., Bouazza, A., Jabur, N.H. & Al Zubaidi, A. (2015). Smartphone Gratifications among Sultan Qaboos University Undergraduates: A Mixed-Approach Investigation. British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 10(1), 1-17
    4. Brhrendt, F. (2021). Telephones, Music and History: From the Invention Era to the Early Smartphone Days. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 27(6), 1678-1695. https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565211028810
    5. Upreti, R. & Singh, R. (2017). Transformation of Man into Smartphone Slave. Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing, 8(9), 1075-1078
    6. Laszlo, G.I. & Tibor, S.M. (2019). How Acts of Terrorism Are Financed and Orchestrated in Secrecy Today: Criminal Offenses, Donations, Legal Businesses and Smartphone Applications. Journal of Eastern-European Criminal Law, 2019(1), 66-76
    7. Gomez-Martin, L.E. (2012). Smartphone Usage and The Need for Consumer Privacy Laws. Pittsburg Journal of Technology Law and Privacy, 12(2), i-20. https://doi.10.5195/tlp.2012.96
    8. Land,M.(2013).Toward an International Law of the Internet,Harvard International Law Journal,5(2),393-458
    9. Sun, N., Esom, K., Dhaliwal, M. & Amon J.J. (2020). Human rights and Digital Health Technologies. Health and Human Rights Journal, 22(2), 21-32

     

    1. C) Documents
    2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)1966
    3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 1966
    4. CESCR, General comment No. 25 (2020) on science and economic, social and cultural rights (article 15 (1) (b), (2), (3) and (4) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), E/C.12/GC/25, 30 April 2020.
    5. France Grenelle II Law also known as Law on National Commitment for the Environment (2010)
    6. CESCR, General Comment No. 13 (Twenty-first session, 1999), the right to education (article 13 of the Covenant), E/C.12/1999/10, 8 December 1999.
    7. Amnesty International Report, This is What We Die For, AFR 62/3183/2016
    8. Human Rights Council (2020), Question of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights in all countries: the role of new technologies for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, A/HRC/43/29 Advanced Edited Version
    9. Economic and Social Council (17 June 2002), E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/21
    10. Eurostat (2014), Methodological Manual for Information Society Statistics
    11. ITU Expert Group on Household Indicators (2017), Proposal for A Definition of Smartphone
    12. ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development Working Group on Smartphone Access (2022), Strategies Towards Universal Smartphone Access
    13. WITNESS (2011), Camera Everywhere
    14. HRC (2011), Discriminatory Laws and Practices and Acts of Violence against Individuals on Their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, A/HRC/19/41
    15. OHCHR (2008), The Right to Health, Fact sheet No.31
    16. General Assembly (2023), Developments in the field of information and telecommunication in the context of international security, A/RES/78/237
    17. General Assembly (2023), Impact of rapid technological change on the achievement of sustainable development goals and targets, A/RES/77/320

     

    1. D) Cases
    2. ECHR, Rabczewska v. Poland, Application no. 8257/13, Judgment of 15 September 2022, Para.50. mutatis mutandis, Evans v. the United Kingdom [GC], Application no. 6339/05, Judgment of 10 April 2007, Paras. 75‑ And Fuentes Bobo v. Spain, Application no. 39293/98, Judgment of 29 February 2000.

     

    1. E) Websites
    2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com
    3. Cambridge Dictionary, https://dictionary.cambridge.org
    4. The Secretary general address to the general assembly(2023), https://www.un.org /sg/en/content /sg/speeches /2023-09-19/secretary-generals-address-the-general-assembly

     

    References In Persian:

    1. A) Books
    2. Donders, Y., & Volodin, V. (2015). Human Rights in Education, Science and Culture: Legal Developments and Challenges. translated by Asli Abbasi, Majd. (in Persian)
    3. Ghari S Fatemi, S. M. (2020). Contemporary Human Rights; An Introduction to Theoretical Issues: Concepts, Foundations, Scope and Sources. Negah Moaser. (in Persian)
    4. Moghareh Abed, K. (2011). The protocols, structure and applications of mobile communication systems, second generation (GSM and GPRS), DaneshpajoohanBarin
    5. Hashemi, S. M. (2021). Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ,Mizan Publication. (in Persian)

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Abdi A., & Zamani, S.G. (2017). MARGIN OF APPRECIATION IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN LIGHT OF THE JURISPRUDENCE OF EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC LAW RESEARCH QUARTERLY, 19(55), https://doi.org/10.22054/qjpl.2017.7778(in Persian)
    3. Ansari, B. (2020). Right of Access the Internet; Bases and Content. The Judiciary’s Law Journal, 84 (112), https://doi.org/10.22106/JLJ.2020.123458.3279 (in Persian)
    4. Molkizade, A. & Mousavifar, H. (2023). A Reflection on the Margin of Appreciation Doctrine. Public Law Studies Quarterly, 52(4), https://doi.org/10.22059/jplsq.2020.261378.1783(in Persian)
    5. Mousavi Mirkalaei, T., & Mohammadzadeh, S. (2023). Freedom of Expression in the Practice of the Human Rights Committee and the Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. Public Law Studies Quarterly, 53(2), https://doi.com/10.22059/JPLSQ.2021.311490.2588(in Persian)
    6. Rassouli, S., & Rezaeenezhad, I. (2023). A Reflection on the Theory of James Nickel about the Indivisibility, and Interdependence of Human Rights. Public Law Studies Quarterly, 53(2), https://doi.org/10.22059/JPLSQ.2021.311444.2587(in Persian)

     

    1. C) Papers
    2. Shahrvand Newspaper (2020). 3.225 million students on the verge of dropping out of school, 8 (2035).
Public Law Studies Quarterly
Volume 55, Issue 2 - Serial Number 42
Summer 2025
Summer 2025
Pages 935-958

  • Receive Date 19 September 2023
  • Revise Date 22 January 2025
  • Accept Date 03 May 2024

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