The resolution calling for an end to excessive surveillance is picking up support in the UN, with the Human Rights Committee adopting the German and Brazilian-drafted resolution by consensus.

"For the first time in the framework of the United Nations this resolution unequivocally states that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online," German U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig said of the resolution, titled “The right to privacy in the digital age.”

It doesn’t mention any country by name, but Germany and Brazil wrote the thing after revelations from the Snowden documents detailed US spying on the leaders of each country. 

The draft resolution notes “that while concerns about public security may justify the gathering and protection of certain sensitive information, States must ensure full compliance with their obligations under international human rights law.”

Australia and Britain have been unsuccessful in trying to water down the language, but OZ especially has seen its bargaining power cut down by revelations it attempted to listen in on the private cellphone of the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and inner circle. Indonesia is now negotiating a bilateral code of ethics on intelligence-sharing with Australia.

The Privacy Resolution is expected to be put to a vote in the 193-member General Assembly next month.