In the era of modernization, human rights have assumed a highly complex and multidimensional character. While the current age of technological advancement and globalization has opened up new horizons for the protection of human rights, it has simultaneously created unprecedented crises and challenges.

In the modern world, the concept of human rights is no longer confined to political or civil liberties; it has expanded into new realms such as technology, the environment, and social justice.

Thanks to the internet and social media, people can now express their opinions from any corner of the globe. Instances of state injustice or human rights violations are brought before the global community in an instant. Through the dissemination of education and awareness via digital platforms, ordinary citizens are far more conscious of their fundamental rights than ever before.

International human rights organizations can now rapidly provide legal assistance anywhere in the world. Building global public opinion has become easier through online petitions and digital campaigns. Modern technology and e-governance are making it possible to bring healthcare, education, and judicial processes to the doorsteps of ordinary people.

The darkest aspect of modernization is the intense surveillance of citizens’ personal data by state and corporate entities. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and spyware like Pegasus is leading to severe violations of the ‘Right to Privacy.’ In the modern era, there has been an alarming rise in digital violence against women, as well as trends of blackmailing, bullying, and the undermining of individuals’ or groups’ human rights through the spread of fake news.

Automation and the excessive use of Artificial Intelligence are causing millions of people to lose their jobs, thereby threatening the ‘right to a dignified life and livelihood.

Unchecked industrialization in the name of modernization and the resulting climate change are causing millions to lose their homes, effectively stripping them of fundamental human rights such as access to safe drinking water, food, and a habitable environment. Strict international laws regarding the use of artificial intelligence and data must be enacted and enforced. The general public needs to be educated about cybersecurity and their digital rights.

A robust legal framework is essential to ensure that technology cannot be exploited by authoritarian regimes to silence citizens.

Modernization and technology themselves are not enemies of human rights; rather, it is their unregulated use and abuse that pose a threat. Let the primary goal of this era be to harness technology for human welfare and as a tool against exploitation.

[Note: I have expressed my personal views here. In this age of information technology, my opinions may well align with those of others. I request that any errors be viewed with indulgence.]

Abu Habib Shakil

BSS, MSS (Political Science)