Prof. Shmuel Hauser

Prof. Shmuel Hauser, former chairman of the Israel Securities Authority and Senior Vice President at Ono Academic College serves as an advisor to CyberRighTech, an Israeli corporation that works with Israeli companies ensuring that sensitive technology does not fall into the hands of repressive countries and organizations.

An article on the corporation in Israel’s business journal, Globes, begins by quoting the Middle East Eye:

  • “Israel’s status as a “startup nation” was established decades ago. But its reputation for hi-tech innovation always depended on a dark side, one that is becoming ever harder to ignore… Israel had achieved a pivotal role globally in merging new digital technologies with the homeland security industry.”

Some Israeli companies engaging in monitoring smartphone activity are under frequent legal and media fire. Society is expressing concerns about a possible clash between the use of different technologies and issues related to human rights, especially in light of the technology’s sophistication.

In this atmosphere, several scholars and practitioners founded CyberRighTech to help companies avoid conflicts between the use of technology and human rights, by formulating rules and work procedures that comply with international conventions. The company recruited a number of well-known advisors, including Ono’s Professor Hauser.

Hauser addressed the question of whether it makes sense to impose regulation on Israeli companies whose technology may be being used in unconscionable ways. He answered “No” and explained: “There’s always the possibility of creating another regulatory body. There’s an advantage if that entity specializes in the subject, but sometimes a new regulator has an agenda. Contrary to what people think, regulators don’t like to stick their heads into companies and say ‘Let’s impose more rules on you.’”

The full article can be found at: https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-helping-tech-cos-help-themselves-on-human-rights-1001339502