Research Outline

Data Breaches Affecting Human Rights

Goals

To develop a list of examples of how a breach of privacy and/or a loss of control of property rights regarding personal data led to a massive violation of their human rights preferably loss of life or limb for a specific person or group of people.

Early Findings

  • It may sound like science fiction, but bodily harm is the next frontier in cyber risk. Even though most cyber attacks — and computer failures — don’t start out with destructive intent, the unintended consequences of even a simple ransomware attack or systems failure can, and increasingly will, have physical consequences.
  • The root of this cyber-physical risk is that computers now control nearly every mechanical process. Cars, for example, have essentially been turned into giant computers. When you apply pressure to the brakes you no longer trigger a mechanical response, but dispatch an electronic signal that travels through the car’s onboard computer.
  • Any attack or failure that cripples the computer systems of an organization can now disable critical safety systems, impair manufacturing processes, or even disrupt access to power, water, coolants or other critical resources.

EXAMPLES