UN rights committee adopts anti-spying resolution

A UN rights committee Tuesday passed a "right to privacy" resolution drafted by Germany and Brazil, which have led international criticism of reported US spying of their leaders.

The resolution will be put to vote by the 193-member General Assembly in December.

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural affairs, unanimously adopted the resolution, saying surveillance and data interception by governments and companies "may violate or abuse human rights", Xinhua reported

The new resolution seeks to extend personal privacy rights to all people after reports of massive global eavesdropping by the US National Security Agency (NSA).

The resolution voiced deep concern over "the negative impact" that this kind of surveillance, "in particular when carried out on a mass scale, may have on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights."

A total of 55 countries, including France and Russia, co-sponsored the resolution, which made a light reference to the US spying after the leakage by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Observers said the consensus on the resolution indicates it will be adopted easily at the General Assembly.