VOA慢速英语2014 联合国对电子间谍发出警告

 

AS IT IS 2014-07-21 UN Warns on Digital Spying 联合国对电子间谍发出警告

A new United Nations report warns that widespread electronic spying threatens people’s right to privacy. The report says this spying happens often instead of rarely.

Navi Pillay is the U.N. High Commissioner¹ for Human Rights. Her office wrote the report. She is calling for stronger limits on mass spying, to protect human rights. 

The report warns that digital spying is increasing and happens in countries throughout the world. It says it may be more common in countries where the government has good technology. And it says many places do not have enough limits on digital spying.  That means such activities could be abused.

Ms. Pillay says states must show that they use their digital spying programs for acceptable legal or intelligence-gathering purposes. She says government officials must show that these programs do not unlawfully gather information about people. 

She tells VOA that countries must balance their need for security with the need to protect people’s right to privacy.

“I, of course, support the efforts made in the United States and other countries to safeguard all of us from acts of terrorism. After all, states have an obligation to protect all their citizens against the harm of terrorism. On the other hand, what are the checks and balances? What kind of safeguards should be in place, and how should states be encouraged to update their laws, and so on, to keep pace with these developments?”

The report says many governments use private companies to help them gather intelligence digitally.

Ms. Pillay says she worries about the ways governments use information, both about their own citizens and citizens of other countries.

“Some governments have reportedly threatened to ban services of telecommunications companies unless given direct access to telecommunication² traffic. Others have tapped fiber³ optic cables for surveillance purposes, or required companies systematically⁴ to disclose bulk information on customers and employees. Some have used communication surveillance to target political opposition⁵ or dissidents.” 

Ms. Pillay warns that companies that provide information to a government in violation⁶ of human rights law may be found guilty of abuse.

She says she believes it is important to protect people who tell about human rights violations⁷. She would not say if she believes American intelligence specialist Edward Snowden should be pardoned.   

Mr. Snowden made public the mass surveillance program operated by the National Security Agency. But she says the information that Mr. Snowden released aids the debate about secrecy⁸. She says we should thank him for that.

She says Mr. Snowden performed a valuable service by telling the public about the issue. She also praised him for urging governments to accept responsibility for their actions.

The UN report also expresses concern about spying aimed at people or groups based on their race, ethnicity or religion. It says such activities violate international human rights law.

This story was based on a VOA News report by Lisa Schlein in Geneva. It was written in Special English by Christopher Cruise, who also narrated⁹ the report, and edited by Jeri Watson.

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 telecommunication   

n.电信，远距离通信

参考例句：

• Telecommunication is an industry of service.电信业是一个服务型的行业。
• I only care about the telecommunication quality and the charge.我只关心通信质量和资费两个方面。

3 fiber   

n.纤维，纤维质

参考例句：

• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
• The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。

4 systematically   

adv.有系统地

参考例句：

• This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

7 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

8 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

9 narrated   

v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》