Freedom of Expression

Freedom of Expression

We work for freedom of expression for all, from circumventing censorship, to promoting rights-respecting solutions to regulating online speech, to standing up for those who are silenced for speaking truth to power.

#FreeAlaa campaign

#FreeAlaa: You Have Not Yet Been Defeated

Despite serving a prejudiced and unfair five-year long prison sentence, British-Egyptian activist, blogger, and software developer Alaa Abd El-Fattah remains unlawfully imprisoned by Egyptian authorities.

Related Issues

Latest Updates

Digital censorship
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Access Now’s statement on Nepal’s escalating digital repression and deadly crackdown

9 Sep 2025

Access Now is deeply alarmed by the government of Nepal’s violent crackdown on human rights, both online and off.

Press Release
Access Now’s statement on Nepal’s escalating digital repression and deadly crackdown
9 Sep 2025
Access Now’s statement on Nepal’s escalating digital repression and deadly crackdown
Africa Digital Safety Tips
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

LGBTQ+ Ghanaians found freedom online – now they might lose it

8 Aug 2025
News
LGBTQ+ Ghanaians found freedom online – now they might lose it
Context ↗
8 Aug 2025
LGBTQ+ Ghanaians found freedom online – now they might lose it
Shutdowns in Myanmar
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Myanmar’s digital crackdown is worsening: the world is stepping back

17 Jul 2025
News
Myanmar’s digital crackdown is worsening: the world is stepping back
Tech Policy Press ↗
17 Jul 2025
Myanmar’s digital crackdown is worsening: the world is stepping back
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Tell MENA authorities: #NoExamShutdown

27 Jun 2025

Year after year, the MENA region has led the world in exam-related shutdowns. It’s time to take action and demand change! #NoExamShutdown

Campaign
Tell MENA authorities: #NoExamShutdown
27 Jun 2025
Tell MENA authorities: #NoExamShutdown
Freedom of expression
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Bahrain: halt repressive amendments to the press law

25 Jun 2025

Access Now calls on Bahrain’s Shura Council to reject the government’s proposed amendments to the Law on Press, Printing, and Publishing.

Press Release
Bahrain: halt repressive amendments to the press law
25 Jun 2025
Bahrain: halt repressive amendments to the press law
Freedom of expression
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Authorities in Jordan must lift ban on news sites

23 May 2025

All stakeholders need to work together to find long-term solutions to complex societal issues, which are based on scientific evidence, and are respectful of rights.

Press Release
Authorities in Jordan must lift ban on news sites
23 May 2025
Authorities in Jordan must lift ban on news sites
Image shows a deteriorated electrical plug shaped like rubik cube, connecting to an elecrical port shaped like an unlocked padlock.
Connectivity
Connectivity

نحو مستقبل رقمي آمن وحر في سوريا

22 May 2025

رفع العقوبات عن سوريا خطوة مهمة نحو التقدّم، لكن لا يزال أمام السوريين الكثير لبناء مستقبل رقمي حر وآمن ومفتوح.

Post
نحو مستقبل رقمي آمن وحر في سوريا
22 May 2025
نحو مستقبل رقمي آمن وحر في سوريا
Image shows a deteriorated electrical plug shaped like rubik cube, connecting to an elecrical port shaped like an unlocked padlock.
Connectivity
Connectivity

Reclaiming Syria’s digital future

22 May 2025
Post
Reclaiming Syria’s digital future
22 May 2025
Reclaiming Syria’s digital future
Ceasefire in Gaza
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

CPDP must resist pressure to muzzle discussions on Palestine

22 May 2025

Human rights NGOs and academics condemn efforts to muzzle discussion of the genocide in Gaza at the 2025 CPDP conference in Brussels.

Press Release
CPDP must resist pressure to muzzle discussions on Palestine
22 May 2025
CPDP must resist pressure to muzzle discussions on Palestine
Regulating digital platforms
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Civil society warns of human rights risks in Mexico’s telecom reform

21 May 2025
Press Release
Civil society warns of human rights risks in Mexico’s telecom reform
21 May 2025
Civil society warns of human rights risks in Mexico’s telecom reform
Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Organizaciones alertan por riesgos a derechos humanos en reforma de telecomunicaciones en México

21 May 2025
Press Release
Organizaciones alertan por riesgos a derechos humanos en reforma de telecomunicaciones en México
21 May 2025
Organizaciones alertan por riesgos a derechos humanos en reforma de telecomunicaciones en México
how social media companies increase risks for LGBTQ+ people in Africa
Digital Security
Digital Security

How Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws entrap people online

15 May 2025

As we mark the IDAHOBIT 2025, we highlight research on Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws and show how they can lead to digital entrapment and human rights violations.

Post
How Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws entrap people online
15 May 2025
How Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws entrap people online
Cameroon
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: Кремль должен воздержаться от отключений во время национальных праздников и мероприятий

12 May 2025

Ниже подписавшиеся решительно осуждают отключения интернета, введённые российскими властями накануне и во время празднования 80-летия Победы во Второй мировой войне.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: Кремль должен воздержаться от отключений во время национальных праздников и мероприятий
12 May 2025
#KeepItOn: Кремль должен воздержаться от отключений во время национальных праздников и мероприятий
Cameroon
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: The Kremlin must refrain from imposing internet shutdowns during key national events

12 May 2025

The undersigned human rights organizations call on the UK government to take immediate action to free Alaa, and save his mother’s life.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: The Kremlin must refrain from imposing internet shutdowns during key national events
12 May 2025
#KeepItOn: The Kremlin must refrain from imposing internet shutdowns during key national events
Digital censorship
Content Governance
Content Governance

Access Now’s statement on digital censorship amid India–Pakistan conflict

9 May 2025

We are alarmed by executive orders issued by the Indian government restricting access to an alarming spectrum of online content, including requiring social media platform X to block access to over 8,000 accounts, including those belonging to journalists, human rights organisations, and independent media outlets.

Press Release
Access Now’s statement on digital censorship amid India–Pakistan conflict
9 May 2025
Access Now’s statement on digital censorship amid India–Pakistan conflict
NSO
Surveillance
Surveillance

NSO to pay $168 million in damages to WhatsApp for Pegasus spyware hacking 

6 May 2025
Press Release
NSO to pay $168 million in damages to WhatsApp for Pegasus spyware hacking 
6 May 2025
NSO to pay $168 million in damages to WhatsApp for Pegasus spyware hacking