QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW

Avstrakt

Quantum technologies, including computing, sensing, and communications, promise transformative advances in fields such as medicine, cryptography, and materials science, yet they also pose profound challenges to human rights under international law. The capacity of quantum computers to break widely used public-key encryption threatens the right to privacy and data protection, enabling mass surveillance and chilling effects on freedom of expression, while enhanced quantum sensing amplifies state and non-state surveillance capabilities. Conversely, these technologies can support the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress by accelerating research and innovation, provided equitable access is ensured to avoid exacerbating global inequalities. As of November 2025, international human rights law—primarily through instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)—provides a framework for addressing these dualities, imposing obligations on states to protect rights from third-party interference and to foster scientific freedom responsibly. However, governance remains fragmented, with no dedicated treaties and reliance on soft-law initiatives from UNESCO, the UN, and OECD. This article analyzes key human rights implications, current legal gaps, and pathways toward rights-compatible governance, arguing for proactive multilateral norms to ensure quantum advances uphold dignity, privacy, and equity