Briefs | Gov’t surveillance – UN committee approves digital privacy resolution

The U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee has approved a resolution demanding better digital privacy protections for people around the world, another echo of Edward Snowden’s revelations about U.S. government spying. Tuesday’s approval by consensus of the resolution drafted by Germany and Brazil reflects alarm at the extent of surveillance revealed by the former National Security Agency contractor last year. Sixty-five countries co-sponsored this year’s resolution, up by 10 from last year. This year’s resolution also emphasizes the role of the private sector in digital surveillance, saying, “business enterprises have a responsibility to respect human rights.” Germany’s ambassador called for the U.N. to create a special investigator post on the issue, warning that “without necessary checks, we risk turning into Orwellian states where every step by every citizen is monitored.”

Venezuela: 13 dead in prison drug poisoning

Venezuela’s government says 13 prisoners have died of drug overdoses and a further 145 are being treated for intoxication after inmates stormed an infirmary amid disturbances at a major corrections facility. The disturbances at the David Voloria penitentiary began Monday when a group of inmates declared a hunger strike to demand better living conditions and force out the jail’s new warden. National Guardsmen were called in to restore calm and dozens of prisoners were transferred. While the situation remains tense the government said in a statement late Wednesday night that the situation remains under control and all prisoners’ rights are being respected. The facility in western Lara state was the site in 2013 of one of Venezuela’s deadliest prison clashes in which 58 guards and inmates were killed.