facilitated and exacerbated by the social media algorithms and business models of Big Tech, which prioritize “engagement” and profits at all costs. The risks are aggravated by the emergence of generative AI tools. Some regulators, on the one hand, and victims seeking remedies, on the other, are making efforts to prevent further abuses. In July 2023, the Court of Justice of the EU delivered a major ruling against the surveillance-based business model underpinning Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. Shortly afterwards, the Norwegian authorities ordered Meta to stop showing personalized advertisements based on the online activity and estimated location of users in Norway. In the EU, civil society focused on pushing for robust implementation of the landmark Digital Services Act of 2022, the world’s first comprehensive regulation governing Big Tech and promising respect for human rights. However, there have been missed opportunities to address the risks of AI technologies. The EU reached an agreement on the EU Artificial Intelligence Act in 2023, but the final text did not go far enough to prevent harm and may even contribute to the expansion and legitimization of the surveillance activities of police and migration authorities. Governments should immediately ban highly invasive spyware and facial recognition technology. They should take robust legislative and regulatory steps to address the risks and harms caused by AI technologies. They should rein in Big Tech, particularly by addressing the harms of its surveillance-based business model. 1. “Challenges faced by women human rights defenders working in conflict, post-conflict or crisis-affected settings”, 5 June 2. “Global: Social media companies must step up crisis response on Israel-Palestine as online hate and censorship proliferate”, 27 October 3. “Ethiopia: Meta’s failures contributed to abuses against Tigrayan community during conflict in northern Ethiopia”, 31 October 4. “Israel/OPT: US veto of ceasefire resolution displays callous disregard for civilian suffering in face of staggering death toll”, 8 December 5. “International Justice Day: Harnessing the Rome Statute and strengthening the system of international justice”, 17 July 6. An Unstoppable Movement: A Global Call to Recognize and Protect Those Who Defend the Right to Abortion, 24 November 7. “Colonialism and sexual orientation and gender identity: Submission to the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity”, 15 June 8. “Global: Vote in favour of international cooperation on tax helps advance human rights”, 22 November 9. “Global: COP28 agreement to move away from fossil fuels sets precedent but falls short of safeguarding human rights”, 13 December 10. “Global: Initial pledges at COP28 to finance the Loss & Damage Fund fall far short of what is needed”, 30 November 11. “Global: UN backs Pacific Island states by asking the International Court to advance climate justice”, 29 March 12. Anti-Corruption Fight in Peril: Crackdown on Anti-Corruption Human Rights Defenders in West and Central Africa, 11 July 13. ‘My Eye Exploded’: The Global Abuse of Kinetic Impact Projectiles, 14 March 14. “The repression trade”, 11 October 15. Rising Prices, Growing Protests: The Case for Universal Social Protection, 10 May; Actions Speak Louder than Words: The World Bank Must Promote Universal Social Protection, 10 October 16. “Global: Companies must act now to ensure responsible development of artificial intelligence”, 14 June 17. Digitally Divided: Technology, Inequality, and Human Rights, 2 October 18. Silicon Shadows: Venture Capital, Human Rights, and the Lack of Due Diligence, 13 December 19. The Predator Files: Caught in the Net, 9 October 20. ‘I feel exposed’: Caught in TikTok’s surveillance web, 7 November; Driven into Darkness: How TikTok’s ‘For You’ Feed Encourages Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation, 7 November 21. “Hateful and abusive speech towards LGBTQ+ community surging on Twitter surging under Elon Musk”, 9 February The State of the World’s Human Rights 23