Protest and Online Organizing

Tunisia protest

Protests and Online Organizing

The right to protest is essential for the future of human rights, justice, and democracy. Protests and online organizing are evolving in digital spaces, and autocratic governments are responding with attempts to undermine privacy, quell dissent, and punish those who speak out. We demand governments and companies respect and protect our freedom to assemble, associate, and speak freely, online and off. We also offer activists and human rights defenders digital safety tools and resources.

Tunisia protest

Will the Right to Protest survive its migration online?

The human right to protest is crucial because it is a gateway right —  it onboards us to other rights. Even for those who have never participated in a protest, or ever plan to, many of the rights we enjoy today are the result of others in the past exercising their right to protest for those rights.

Resources

Content Governance

New world disorder: digital attacks on freedom of assembly

Access Now’s latest report examines the power — and fragility — of our rights to peaceful assembly and association in the digital era.

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Freedom of Expression

Iran: alarm over mass arrests of human rights defenders amidst protests

Civil society call for an end to the deliberate violence and arrests against human rights defenders, journalists, and activists during the Iran protests

Digital rights

Freedom of Expression

At the U.N., a new push to end surveillance of protesters — and protect their lawyers

Digital surveillance is threatening the right to protest worldwide. U.N. human rights expert Clément Voule is fighting for strong encryption and tight restrictions on the use of spyware. Here’s why that push is important for human rights lawyers and the activists they represent.

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Freedom of Expression

Arab Spring: ten years in, how can we reclaim the internet as an open space?

The internet played a pivotal role during the Arab Spring protests. But a decade on, the state of internet freedom in many Arab countries has deteriorated. Join us for a virtual conversation to explore the evolution of the digital space from a tool of mobilization to one of repression.

|Image: surveillance cameras on the street.

Covid-19

RightsCon spotlight: “The Privatised Panopticon: Workers’ Surveillance in the Digital Age”

In a session with European Digital Rights at RightsCon, we will explore how surveillance technology can make your workplace function like a prison: a privatised panopticon that threatens labour movements and undermines human rights.

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Digital Security

Human rights groups ask U.N. to intervene in U.S. crackdown on racial justice protesters

Access Now and partners ask the United Nations to take a stand against the U.S. government’s violent response to peaceful protests.

Digital Security

To #SaveDotOrg, we still need safeguards

Today, NTEN, EFF, and Access Now delivered the following letter to the leaders of ISOC and PIR calling on them to reflect and to take immediate action to adopt the safeguards put forward by the #SaveDotOrg campaign.

Latest Updates

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Digital Security
Digital Security

Why we won’t stop defending LGBTQ+ digital rights

3 Dec 2024
Post
Why we won’t stop defending LGBTQ+ digital rights
3 Dec 2024
Why we won’t stop defending LGBTQ+ digital rights
Saudi Arabia Internet Governance
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Saudi authorities must end misuse of administrative and judicial measures against released human rights defenders including Loujain al-Hathloul

31 Oct 2024

We call on the Saudi authorities to immediately cease misusing administrative and judicial measures against human rights defenders released from prison.

Press Release
Saudi authorities must end misuse of administrative and judicial measures against released human rights defenders including Loujain al-Hathloul
31 Oct 2024
Saudi authorities must end misuse of administrative and judicial measures against released human rights defenders including Loujain al-Hathloul
Regulating digital platforms
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Experts: Apple’s removal of news apps in Russia sets ‘dangerous precedent’

29 Oct 2024
News
Experts: Apple’s removal of news apps in Russia sets ‘dangerous precedent’
Voice of America ↗
29 Oct 2024
Experts: Apple’s removal of news apps in Russia sets ‘dangerous precedent’
Image: #FreeAlaa Campaign
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

ينبغي إطلاق سراح علاء عبد الفتاح هذا الشهر بعد انتهاء مدة سجنه

25 Sep 2024

Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released on Sunday, 29 September at the end of his five year prison sentence.

Press Release
ينبغي إطلاق سراح علاء عبد الفتاح هذا الشهر بعد انتهاء مدة سجنه
25 Sep 2024
ينبغي إطلاق سراح علاء عبد الفتاح هذا الشهر بعد انتهاء مدة سجنه
Image: #FreeAlaa Campaign
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released this month at the end of his prison sentence

25 Sep 2024

Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released on Sunday, 29 September at the end of his five year prison sentence.

Press Release
Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released this month at the end of his prison sentence
25 Sep 2024
Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released this month at the end of his prison sentence
Kenyan government violations of rights
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Access Now and KICTANet’s joint memorandum on Kenya’s Assembly and Demonstrations Bill, 2024

13 Sep 2024
Publication
Access Now and KICTANet’s joint memorandum on Kenya’s Assembly and Demonstrations Bill, 2024
13 Sep 2024
Access Now and KICTANet’s joint memorandum on Kenya’s Assembly and Demonstrations Bill, 2024
Open letter on technology-enabled political violence in Venezuela
Digital Identity Systems
Digital Identity Systems

Venezuela: digital id as a tool of oppression

12 Sep 2024
News
Venezuela: digital id as a tool of oppression
Tech Policy Press ↗
12 Sep 2024
Venezuela: digital id as a tool of oppression
India fake news
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Egypt authorities must release activist Mohamed Adel

10 Sep 2024

Human rights organizations urge the Egyptian authorities to immediately release political activist Mohamed Adel, and to comply with their duty to protect his life and health.

Press Release
Egypt authorities must release activist Mohamed Adel
10 Sep 2024
Egypt authorities must release activist Mohamed Adel
Saudi Arabia Internet Governance
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Joint Statement: Saudi Arabia must free detainees jailed for their online expression ahead of Internet Governance Forum

6 Sep 2024

Access Now, Amnesty International, and civil society partners demand Saudi Arabia free individuals detained for their online expression ahead the UN Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh.

Press Release
Joint Statement: Saudi Arabia must free detainees jailed for their online expression ahead of Internet Governance Forum
6 Sep 2024
Joint Statement: Saudi Arabia must free detainees jailed for their online expression ahead of Internet Governance Forum
Saudi Arabia Internet Governance
Transparency
Transparency

بيان مشترك: على السلطات السعودية الإفراج عن المحتجزين بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على الإنترنت قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت

6 Sep 2024

نطالب، بالتعاون مع منظمات المجتمع المدني، السعودية بالإفراج عن الأشخاص المحتجزين بسبب تعبيرهم عبر الإنترنت قبل منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت.

Press Release
بيان مشترك: على السلطات السعودية الإفراج عن المحتجزين بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على الإنترنت قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت
6 Sep 2024
بيان مشترك: على السلطات السعودية الإفراج عن المحتجزين بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على الإنترنت قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت
Digital Safety Tips Activists MENA Region
Digital Security
Digital Security

دليل الأمن الرقمي للنشطاء في الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا

4 Sep 2024

قامت أكساس ناو بإعداد هذا الدليل للأمن الرقمي بهدف تقديم الدعم للأشخاص في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا الذين يسعون لحماية أنفسهم من التهديدات الرقمية والبقاء آمنين على الإنترنت.

Guide
دليل الأمن الرقمي للنشطاء في الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا
4 Sep 2024
دليل الأمن الرقمي للنشطاء في الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا
Open letter on technology-enabled political violence in Venezuela
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn in Venezuela: Maduro must end his regime’s assault on free speech

27 Aug 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition are demanding the Nicolás Maduro regime stop imposing internet shutdowns and other human rights abuses in Venezuela in response to protests relating to the presidential election.

Press Release
#KeepItOn in Venezuela: Maduro must end his regime’s assault on free speech
27 Aug 2024
#KeepItOn in Venezuela: Maduro must end his regime’s assault on free speech
Open letter on technology-enabled political violence in Venezuela
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn en Venezuela: Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en tiempos de protesta y conflicto

27 Aug 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition are demanding the Nicolás Maduro regime stop imposing internet shutdowns and other human rights abuses in Venezuela in response to protests relating to the presidential election.

Press Release
#KeepItOn en Venezuela: Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en tiempos de protesta y conflicto
27 Aug 2024
#KeepItOn en Venezuela: Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en tiempos de protesta y conflicto
STOP Methodology KeepItOn Socials
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Internet blackout in Equatorial Guinea and patrolling drones in Venezuela

14 Aug 2024
News
Internet blackout in Equatorial Guinea and patrolling drones in Venezuela
Somewhere on Earth ↗
14 Aug 2024
Internet blackout in Equatorial Guinea and patrolling drones in Venezuela
Open letter on technology-enabled political violence in Venezuela
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Venezuela’s government turns to tech to curb election protests

14 Aug 2024
News
Venezuela’s government turns to tech to curb election protests
Context News ↗
14 Aug 2024
Venezuela’s government turns to tech to curb election protests
KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn in Annobón: Authorities in Equatorial Guinea must end internet shutdown and other human rights abuses

13 Aug 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition are calling on authorities in Equatorial Guinea to immediately restore internet and telecom services in Annobón.

Press Release
#KeepItOn in Annobón: Authorities in Equatorial Guinea must end internet shutdown and other human rights abuses
13 Aug 2024
#KeepItOn in Annobón: Authorities in Equatorial Guinea must end internet shutdown and other human rights abuses