Tech Companies Face Scrutiny Over Human Rights Due Diligence in Government Contracts During Conflicts
The Global Network Initiative (GNI), in partnership with organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), has been examining the human rights due diligence (HRDD) of tech infrastructure services when governments are customers in conflict settings. This initiative stems from prior discussions by GNI’s Armed Conflict Working Group, which explored tech company responsibility in conflict zones. The focus is on how governments utilize tech infrastructure services, such as cloud computing and AI tools, in military activities and other conflict-related uses. The increasing prevalence of 'dual-use' technology blurs the lines between civilian and military applications, raising concerns about potential human rights violations. Risks identified include the use of sensitive data, enabling surveillance, facilitating discrimination, and contributing to government violations of human rights or humanitarian law. Companies are urge... 
