Surveillance

STANDING UP TO SURVEILLANCE

We fight surveillance laws, policies, and practices that undermine human rights. From investigating spyware attacks that target human rights defenders to fighting biometric surveillance systems that put entire communities at risk, we work to hold manufacturers and investors accountable for the impact of dangerous surveillance tech and push for strict regulations to prevent widespread abuse.

Ban Biometric Surveillance

Some surveillance technologies are so dangerous that they inevitably cause far more problems than they solve. The use of facial recognition and remote biometric technologies in publicly accessible spaces enables mass surveillance and discriminatory targeted surveillance.

Resources

Spyware: a threat to human rights and democracy

Data Protection

Geneva Declaration: international community unites to end spyware abuse

Access Now and the Government of Catalonia are calling for an end to the proliferation of surveillance tech through the Geneva Declaration.

Musk

Digital Security

New guide: surveillance technology investors face significant risks if human rights are ignored

A new guide on effective due diligence will help shareholders with investments in surveillance technology prevent and mitigate human rights risks.

Voice recognition tech header image|voice recognition technology social card image

Data Protection

Sonic surveillance: why you don’t want AI snooping on you

The threat voice recognition technology poses to our rights needs to be addressed now — before our voices become yet another piece of biometric data to be used against us.

Más allá de Pegasus: políticas públicas contra periodistas y sociedad civil en El Salvador

Digital Security

Unsafe anywhere: attacked by Pegasus, women activists speak out

Front Line Defenders and Access Now’s new report, “Unsafe anywhere: women human rights defenders speak out about Pegasus attacks,” unpacks the first-hand experiences of women navigating an increasingly hostile and dangerous environment.

U.S. blocklists Sandvine for enabling digital repression in Egypt

Digital Security

MENA Surveillance Coalition: stop all surveillance tech sales to the region’s autocratic governments

The MENA Surveillance Coalition is demanding the immediate end to the sale of surveillance technology to Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) autocratic governments.

Latest Updates

Manual Del Pequeñx Vigilado Header
Surveillance
Surveillance

Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx: una guía ilustrada para resistir la vigilancia

6 Feb 2025
Post
Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx: una guía ilustrada para resistir la vigilancia
6 Feb 2025
Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx: una guía ilustrada para resistir la vigilancia
U.S. blocklists Sandvine for enabling digital repression in Egypt
Surveillance
Surveillance

WhatsApp says a spyware company targeted journalists and civilians

3 Feb 2025
News
WhatsApp says a spyware company targeted journalists and civilians
NBC ↗
3 Feb 2025
WhatsApp says a spyware company targeted journalists and civilians
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
Surveillance
Surveillance

WhatsApp accuses Paragon of targeting about 90 users with spyware

3 Feb 2025
News
WhatsApp accuses Paragon of targeting about 90 users with spyware
The Record ↗
3 Feb 2025
WhatsApp accuses Paragon of targeting about 90 users with spyware
U.S. blocklists Sandvine for enabling digital repression in Egypt
Surveillance
Surveillance

Dozens of WhatsApp users targeted by Israeli spyware company

3 Feb 2025
News
Dozens of WhatsApp users targeted by Israeli spyware company
The Cradle ↗
3 Feb 2025
Dozens of WhatsApp users targeted by Israeli spyware company
U.S. blocklists Sandvine for enabling digital repression in Egypt
Surveillance
Surveillance

Meta’s WhatsApp says spyware company Paragon targeted users in two dozen countries

3 Feb 2025
News
Meta’s WhatsApp says spyware company Paragon targeted users in two dozen countries
Reuters ↗
3 Feb 2025
Meta’s WhatsApp says spyware company Paragon targeted users in two dozen countries
AI
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Projekti ‘Smart City’ ngre kambana alarmi për survejim masiv në Shqipëri

3 Feb 2025
News
Projekti ‘Smart City’ ngre kambana alarmi për survejim masiv në Shqipëri
Report.al ↗
3 Feb 2025
Projekti ‘Smart City’ ngre kambana alarmi për survejim masiv në Shqipëri
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Tackling the “black snakes” undermining digital rights worldwide 

16 Jan 2025

As 2025 gets underway, Access Now’s new Executive Director, Alejandro Mayoral Baños, PhD, shares his reflections on the “black snakes” threatening the digital rights movement.

Post
Tackling the “black snakes” undermining digital rights worldwide 
16 Jan 2025
Tackling the “black snakes” undermining digital rights worldwide 
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance
Surveillance

How Barcelona became an unlikely hub for spyware startups

14 Jan 2025
News
How Barcelona became an unlikely hub for spyware startups
TechCrunch ↗
14 Jan 2025
How Barcelona became an unlikely hub for spyware startups
GDPR procedural
Privacy
Privacy

Telecom rules and metadata: how much data do telecom companies collect about users based on internet activity?

14 Jan 2025
News
Telecom rules and metadata: how much data do telecom companies collect about users based on internet activity?
Medianama ↗
14 Jan 2025
Telecom rules and metadata: how much data do telecom companies collect about users based on internet activity?
WhatsApp v NSO case
Surveillance
Surveillance

Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case

13 Jan 2025

Access Now welcomes the ruling in the case of WhatsApp v NSO Group, where the U.S. District Court of Northern California found that NSO violated federal and California state hacking statutes.

Press Release
Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case
13 Jan 2025
Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case
WhatsApp v NSO case
Surveillance
Surveillance

NSO ruling is a victory for WhatsApp, but could have a small impact on spyware industry

10 Jan 2025
News
NSO ruling is a victory for WhatsApp, but could have a small impact on spyware industry
The Record ↗
10 Jan 2025
NSO ruling is a victory for WhatsApp, but could have a small impact on spyware industry
spyware
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity

Judge grants ruling in favor of WhatsApp against spyware firm NSO Group

6 Jan 2025
News
Judge grants ruling in favor of WhatsApp against spyware firm NSO Group
Cyberscoop ↗
6 Jan 2025
Judge grants ruling in favor of WhatsApp against spyware firm NSO Group
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance
Surveillance

Judge rules NSO Group is liable for spyware hacks targeting 1,400 WhatsApp user devices

23 Dec 2024
News
Judge rules NSO Group is liable for spyware hacks targeting 1,400 WhatsApp user devices
The Record ↗
23 Dec 2024
Judge rules NSO Group is liable for spyware hacks targeting 1,400 WhatsApp user devices
U.S. blocklists Sandvine for enabling digital repression in Egypt
Surveillance
Surveillance

Why Apple sends spyware victims to this nonprofit security lab

23 Dec 2024
News
Why Apple sends spyware victims to this nonprofit security lab
TechCrunch ↗
23 Dec 2024
Why Apple sends spyware victims to this nonprofit security lab
spyware
Surveillance
Surveillance

Anti-genocide activists target Israeli drone manufacturer in Brooklyn

20 Dec 2024
News
Anti-genocide activists target Israeli drone manufacturer in Brooklyn
Truthout ↗
20 Dec 2024
Anti-genocide activists target Israeli drone manufacturer in Brooklyn
Privacidad en desplazamiento migratorio, Migrar Sin Vigilancia
Privacy
Privacy

Privacidad en desplazamiento: estas son las amenazas digitales contra albergues migratorios en México

18 Dec 2024
Post
Privacidad en desplazamiento: estas son las amenazas digitales contra albergues migratorios en México
18 Dec 2024
Privacidad en desplazamiento: estas son las amenazas digitales contra albergues migratorios en México