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: You Have Not Yet Been Defeated

On April 2, 2022, and after years of unlawful imprisonment, mistreatment, and torture, Egyptian activist, blogger, and software developer Alaa Abd El-Fattah shaved his head and started a hunger strike on the first day of Ramadan.

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Latest Updates

Cover Image: It's not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices
Content Governance
Content Governance

Meta is revisiting its hate speech policy on Zionism — here’s why it’s (still) a bad idea

27 Mar 2024

Meta is (re)considering how to moderate content involving the term “Zionist.” Here’s why this hate speech policy is (still) a bad idea.

Post
Meta is revisiting its hate speech policy on Zionism — here’s why it’s (still) a bad idea
27 Mar 2024
Meta is revisiting its hate speech policy on Zionism — here’s why it’s (still) a bad idea
Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

A step in the right direction: Meta Oversight Board’s opinion on the term “shaheed”

26 Mar 2024

Access Now welcome the Oversight Board’s opinion urging Meta to end its blanket ban on the term “shaheed” when referring to individuals designated as dangerous.

Press Release
A step in the right direction: Meta Oversight Board’s opinion on the term “shaheed”
26 Mar 2024
A step in the right direction: Meta Oversight Board’s opinion on the term “shaheed”
How to get rid of targeted ads on TikTok (only in the EU)
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Dissecting the ‘TikTok problem’

23 Mar 2024
News
Dissecting the ‘TikTok problem’
Al Jazeera ↗
23 Mar 2024
Dissecting the ‘TikTok problem’
human impact of internet shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

The Sudan conflict: how internet shutdowns deepen a humanitarian crisis

21 Mar 2024

These stories from the Sudan conflict show the human impact of the internet shutdowns that plunged the country into darkness last month.

Post
The Sudan conflict: how internet shutdowns deepen a humanitarian crisis
21 Mar 2024
The Sudan conflict: how internet shutdowns deepen a humanitarian crisis
How to stay safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Genocide in the digital age: what role do social media companies play?

20 Mar 2024
News
Genocide in the digital age: what role do social media companies play?
Association for Progressive Communications ↗
20 Mar 2024
Genocide in the digital age: what role do social media companies play?
Protect LGBTIQ Digital Rights
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Open letter to the President of Ghana: Reject the anti-LGBTQ+ bill to protect human rights

20 Mar 2024

Access Now and 28 civil society organizations are calling on President Nana-Akuffo Addo to reject Ghana’s draconian anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

Press Release
Open letter to the President of Ghana: Reject the anti-LGBTQ+ bill to protect human rights
20 Mar 2024
Open letter to the President of Ghana: Reject the anti-LGBTQ+ bill to protect human rights
Russia #KeepItOn elections
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Democracy’s lifeline: Senegal must uphold internet access this election

19 Mar 2024

Authorities in Senegal must commit to ensuring access to the internet throughout the election period.

Press Release
Democracy’s lifeline: Senegal must uphold internet access this election
19 Mar 2024
Democracy’s lifeline: Senegal must uphold internet access this election
How to get rid of targeted ads on TikTok (only in the EU)
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

A TikTok ban could embolden authoritarian censorship, experts warn

17 Mar 2024
News
A TikTok ban could embolden authoritarian censorship, experts warn
NBC ↗
17 Mar 2024
A TikTok ban could embolden authoritarian censorship, experts warn
Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

In Pakistan, threats continue to internet access, including social media

5 Mar 2024
News
In Pakistan, threats continue to internet access, including social media
The Record ↗
5 Mar 2024
In Pakistan, threats continue to internet access, including social media
Protect LGBTIQ Digital Rights
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Ghana’s backward move on LGBT+ rights

5 Mar 2024
News
Ghana’s backward move on LGBT+ rights
This Week In Cyberspace ↗
5 Mar 2024
Ghana’s backward move on LGBT+ rights
European Media Freedom Act
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Türkiye: Big tech should protect free speech and resist state censorship

4 Mar 2024

We join ARTICLE 19, HRW, and 19 rights groups in calling on social media platforms to protect users’ free expression rights amidst increasing state censorship ahead of Türkiye’s municipal elections.

Press Release
Türkiye: Big tech should protect free speech and resist state censorship
4 Mar 2024
Türkiye: Big tech should protect free speech and resist state censorship
Image: censorship and free speech
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

In Saudi Arabia, no safe harbor for free speech

29 Feb 2024

Saudi authorities have proposed two laws that would further restrict free expression online, even potentially silencing people outside Saudi Arabia.

Post
In Saudi Arabia, no safe harbor for free speech
29 Feb 2024
In Saudi Arabia, no safe harbor for free speech
Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

President Nana Akufo-Addo must reject Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill

29 Feb 2024

Access Now condemns a move from the Ghanaian parliament to pass the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on 28 February.

Press Release
President Nana Akufo-Addo must reject Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill
29 Feb 2024
President Nana Akufo-Addo must reject Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill
Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Democracy on the brink in Tunisia?

24 Feb 2024
News
Democracy on the brink in Tunisia?
BBC ↗
24 Feb 2024
Democracy on the brink in Tunisia?
Cover Image: It's not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices
Content Governance
Content Governance

It’s not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices

19 Feb 2024

This Access Now report documented cases of how Meta censors Palestinian voices on Facebook and Instagram.

Publication
It’s not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices
19 Feb 2024
It’s not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices
Cover Image: It's not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices
Content Governance
Content Governance

Meta must act: stop the systematic censorship of Palestinian voices

19 Feb 2024

Meta’s ongoing censorship of Palestine-related content during times of conflict is a systemic issue, not a glitch that needs addressing.

Press Release
Meta must act: stop the systematic censorship of Palestinian voices
19 Feb 2024
Meta must act: stop the systematic censorship of Palestinian voices