Human rights protection for online activist groups: a legal analysis of the issues, frameworks and ways forward

This thesis entitled Human Rights Protection For Online Activist Groups: A Legal Analysis of the Issues, Frameworks and Ways Forward assesses how improved protection can be provided to online activist groups that operate within England and Wales. In light of technological and legislative developments that have resulted in various challenges for online groups and their essential rights. The principle aim of this thesis is to illustrate and assess the extent to which improved protection can be provided for online activist groups, both individuals members as well as suggesting the merit in recognising the group as an entity concurrently. Focusing on the rights of freedom of association and assembly, the objective is to demonstrate that the currently suggested protections afforded to groups under jurisdictional human rights frameworks are inadequate in a nature. Due to such factors as the unprecedented impact that surveillance technologies and contextual developments continue to have on this right. This thesis finds with contemplation of (a) challenges presented by the online environment such as increased surveillance and the utilisation of ‘Hidden Spaces’, (b) the politicised, contentious, and difficult nature of the governance of digital rights (c) planned future legislative innovation within England and Wales that any progress in ensuring that the rights of online activist groups are upheld is likely to be a problematic endeavour. With issues such as the criminality of actors arising, yet the responsibility lies with the instruments and related bodies themselves, rather than with the groups. Indicating that the best approach forward within this context is to recognise groups as separate rights holding entities, within the presented scope, as reducing the impact of the above-mentioned trajectory is unlikely to occur in the near future.