Right to truth, right to privacy and right to know: abuses and the way out.

International law refers to the right to truth. A similar right exists on the national level, namely the right to information. The right to information, however, may come into conflict with the right to privacy. While legislators and courts tried to find a proper balance between the two and scholars started to think about developing the right to truth on the level of national jurisdictions, the notions of truth, information, and privacy were strongly challenged by the intensive development of new technologies. The information and data obtained by tech companies, political parties, and governments became means for the development of disinformation and “fake news” in aid of the economic or political interests of these entities on the national or international ground. There is much disturbing evidence of such activities undertaken in various political campaigns dating from around 2010, including the use of hacking, of disinformation, and of voter suppression through alleged violence and intimidation. We should ask whether it is still possible to defend the idea of reaching for the truth and gaining information and knowledge while respecting the right to privacy and right to freedom in democratic societies. The positive answer includes a set of recommendations