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.

Thumbnail of the Investigation report: how Pegasus spyware crushes civic space in Jordan

Exiled, then spied on: Civil society in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland targeted with Pegasus spyware

All governments must establish an immediate moratorium on the export, sale, transfer, servicing, and use of targeted digital surveillance technologies until rigorous human rights safeguards are put in place to stop human rights abuses.

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.

Border Surveillance Greece Header

Digital Identity Systems

Surveilling Europe’s edges: when digitalisation means dehumanisation

In the first of a three-part blog series, Caterina Rodelli explains how digital surveillance is dehumanising people at Europe’s borders.

Manual Del Pequeñx Vigilado Header

Data Protection

Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx

El Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx es una guía para ayudarte a navegar el sistema judicial en caso de sufrir una detención errónea por sistemas biométricos.

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.

Surveillance

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

a web of connected eyes on a purple and blue background

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

Sweden
Digital Security
Digital Security

Why client-side scanning on encrypted platforms is a lose-lose proposition 

3 Jul 2025

Regulators worldwide have been pushing client-side scanning (CSS) as a way to examine encrypted communications. But this system still undermines people’s privacy and security by circumventing end-to-end encryption, as we explain.

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Why client-side scanning on encrypted platforms is a lose-lose proposition 
3 Jul 2025
Why client-side scanning on encrypted platforms is a lose-lose proposition 
NSO
Surveillance
Surveillance

Paragon: stop spyware abuse and deliver justice to victims

19 Jun 2025
Press Release
Paragon: stop spyware abuse and deliver justice to victims
19 Jun 2025
Paragon: stop spyware abuse and deliver justice to victims
Paragon spyware
Surveillance
Surveillance

Paragon must answer for spyware use against civil society and journalists

19 Jun 2025

Access Now calls on Paragon to answer for the use of its spyware in Italy against journalists, and to address oversight failures.

Press Release
Paragon must answer for spyware use against civil society and journalists
19 Jun 2025
Paragon must answer for spyware use against civil society and journalists
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Digital ceasefire: the path to peace goes online

19 Jun 2025

In today’s era of digital warfare, digital ceasefires are cornerstones on the pathway to peace. Access Now has been working with peace-building experts to discuss exactly what a digital ceasefire should look like.

Post
Digital ceasefire: the path to peace goes online
19 Jun 2025
Digital ceasefire: the path to peace goes online
Protect Not Surveil Socials
Surveillance
Surveillance

The EU must stop the digitalisation of the deportation regime and withdraw the new Return Regulation

18 Jun 2025

On March 11, 2025, the European Commission published a new legislative proposal for a ‘Return Regulation’ which is set to expand the detention and deportation of migrant people, including children, in the EU.

Press Release
The EU must stop the digitalisation of the deportation regime and withdraw the new Return Regulation
18 Jun 2025
The EU must stop the digitalisation of the deportation regime and withdraw the new Return Regulation
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance
Surveillance

No normalising spyware: Italy admits use, but not the full extent

6 Jun 2025
Press Release
No normalising spyware: Italy admits use, but not the full extent
6 Jun 2025
No normalising spyware: Italy admits use, but not the full extent
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.

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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
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Reclaiming Syria’s digital future
22 May 2025
Reclaiming Syria’s digital future
a web of connected eyes on a purple and blue background
Surveillance
Surveillance

LIBE vote on Europol reform blow to the Commission, but still legitimises an expanding surveillance regime

21 May 2025
Press Release
LIBE vote on Europol reform blow to the Commission, but still legitimises an expanding surveillance regime
21 May 2025
LIBE vote on Europol reform blow to the Commission, but still legitimises an expanding surveillance regime
a web of connected eyes on a purple and blue background
Surveillance
Surveillance

IOM’s digital tool aims to speed up migrant removals, but at what cost?

19 May 2025
News
IOM’s digital tool aims to speed up migrant removals, but at what cost?
The New Humanitarian ↗
19 May 2025
IOM’s digital tool aims to speed up migrant removals, but at what cost?
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.

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How Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws entrap people online
15 May 2025
How Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws entrap people online
Más allá de Pegasus: políticas públicas contra periodistas y sociedad civil en El Salvador
Surveillance
Surveillance

La empresa propietaria del software espía Pegasus, condenada a pagar 168 millones de dólares a Meta

7 May 2025
News
La empresa propietaria del software espía Pegasus, condenada a pagar 168 millones de dólares a Meta
El Pais ↗
7 May 2025
La empresa propietaria del software espía Pegasus, condenada a pagar 168 millones de dólares a Meta
Press under Attack – Digital Strategies to Intimidate Journalists in Latin America
Surveillance
Surveillance

حكم بتغريم شركة “إن إس أو” الإسرائيلية 168 مليون دولار لاختراقها “واتساب”

7 May 2025
News
حكم بتغريم شركة “إن إس أو” الإسرائيلية 168 مليون دولار لاختراقها “واتساب”
The New Arab ↗
7 May 2025
حكم بتغريم شركة “إن إس أو” الإسرائيلية 168 مليون دولار لاختراقها “واتساب”
NSO
Surveillance
Surveillance

Court clash between Meta and NSO ends in $168 million defeat for spyware firm

7 May 2025
News
Court clash between Meta and NSO ends in $168 million defeat for spyware firm
Reuters ↗
7 May 2025
Court clash between Meta and NSO ends in $168 million defeat for spyware firm
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 
a web of connected eyes on a purple and blue background
Surveillance
Surveillance

NSO Group damages in WhatsApp spyware case could be in the ‘tens of millions,’ experts predict

30 Apr 2025
News
NSO Group damages in WhatsApp spyware case could be in the ‘tens of millions,’ experts predict
The Record ↗
30 Apr 2025
NSO Group damages in WhatsApp spyware case could be in the ‘tens of millions,’ experts predict