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.

مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28

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

Human Rights 75 Pledges
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Human Rights 75 pledges and vision on the future of human rights

8 Dec 2023

Access Now welcomes this opportunity to provide relevant information to the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to inform the High Commissioner’s Vision on the Future of Human Rights in the framework of the Human Rights 75 Initiative.

Press Release
Human Rights 75 pledges and vision on the future of human rights
8 Dec 2023
Human Rights 75 pledges and vision on the future of human rights
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance
Surveillance

Las personas migrantes en Latinoamérica están siendo vigiladas por sus gobiernos

4 Dec 2023
Post
Las personas migrantes en Latinoamérica están siendo vigiladas por sus gobiernos
4 Dec 2023
Las personas migrantes en Latinoamérica están siendo vigiladas por sus gobiernos
surveillance tech at the EU borders
Surveillance
Surveillance

Civil society joint statement: Europe’s (digital) borders must fall

4 Dec 2023

Civil society is calling for an end to the expansion of EURODAC, the EU database for the registration of asxylum-seekers. EURODAC is being transformed into an expansive, violent surveillance tool that will treat people seeking protection as crime suspects.

Press Release
Civil society joint statement: Europe’s (digital) borders must fall
4 Dec 2023
Civil society joint statement: Europe’s (digital) borders must fall
Data Protection
Data Protection

#MigrarSinVigilancia

29 Nov 2023

#MigrarSinVigilancia es un frente común para resguardar los derechos humanos de las personas migrantes desde la protección de sus datos personales.

Campaign
#MigrarSinVigilancia
29 Nov 2023
#MigrarSinVigilancia
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance
Surveillance

Belarus Internet Governance Forum: no civil society dialogue from behind bars

29 Nov 2023
News
Belarus Internet Governance Forum: no civil society dialogue from behind bars
Tech Policy Press ↗
29 Nov 2023
Belarus Internet Governance Forum: no civil society dialogue from behind bars
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance
Surveillance

Kritičari vlasti u Srbiji navodno meta špijunskog napada

28 Nov 2023
News
Kritičari vlasti u Srbiji navodno meta špijunskog napada
Radio Slobodna Evropa ↗
28 Nov 2023
Kritičari vlasti u Srbiji navodno meta špijunskog napada
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
Surveillance
Surveillance

Critics of Serbia’s government targeted with ‘military-grade spyware’

28 Nov 2023
News
Critics of Serbia’s government targeted with ‘military-grade spyware’
The Guardian ↗
28 Nov 2023
Critics of Serbia’s government targeted with ‘military-grade spyware’
spyware
Surveillance
Surveillance

Spyware abuses travel to Serbia for first time

28 Nov 2023
News
Spyware abuses travel to Serbia for first time
Washington Post ↗
28 Nov 2023
Spyware abuses travel to Serbia for first time
spyware
Surveillance
Surveillance

Spyware in Serbia: civil society under attack

28 Nov 2023

Access Now and our partners have discovered that civil society in Serbia have been targeted with invasive spyware technology. Here’s what we know.

Post
Spyware in Serbia: civil society under attack
28 Nov 2023
Spyware in Serbia: civil society under attack
Press under Attack – Digital Strategies to Intimidate Journalists in Latin America
Digital Security
Digital Security

Claims that NSO’s Pegasus spyware helps Israel find hostages are ‘nonsense,’ experts say

22 Nov 2023
News
Claims that NSO’s Pegasus spyware helps Israel find hostages are ‘nonsense,’ experts say
Fast Company ↗
22 Nov 2023
Claims that NSO’s Pegasus spyware helps Israel find hostages are ‘nonsense,’ experts say
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance
Surveillance

Coalition warns Congress: don’t use legislative tricks to reauthorize surveillance abuse

14 Nov 2023
Press Release
Coalition warns Congress: don’t use legislative tricks to reauthorize surveillance abuse
14 Nov 2023
Coalition warns Congress: don’t use legislative tricks to reauthorize surveillance abuse
Apple threat notifications
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity

FAQ: Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline and Apple threat notifications

3 Nov 2023

Access Now’s knowledge about ongoing Apple threat notifications sent to people who may have been targeted by state-sponsored spyware attacks

Post
FAQ: Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline and Apple threat notifications
3 Nov 2023
FAQ: Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline and Apple threat notifications
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance
Surveillance

Apple warns Armenians of state-sponsored hacking attempts

3 Nov 2023
News
Apple warns Armenians of state-sponsored hacking attempts
The Record ↗
3 Nov 2023
Apple warns Armenians of state-sponsored hacking attempts
spyware
Surveillance
Surveillance

Democracy needs privacy: ban rights-violating spyware in India now 

31 Oct 2023

India must implement a ban on the use of rights-abusing commercial spyware and make a commitment to reform the country’s surveillance laws.

Press Release
Democracy needs privacy: ban rights-violating spyware in India now 
31 Oct 2023
Democracy needs privacy: ban rights-violating spyware in India now 
How to stay safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza
Digital Security
Digital Security

Cómo protegerse en línea en el contexto del conflicto en Gaza  

26 Oct 2023

La presente guía de consejos sobre resiliencia digital elaborada por Access Now y SMEX fue diseñada para brindarles apoyo contra las amenazas denunciadas.

Guide
Cómo protegerse en línea en el contexto del conflicto en Gaza  
26 Oct 2023
Cómo protegerse en línea en el contexto del conflicto en Gaza  
How to stay safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza
Digital Security
Digital Security

Staying safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza  

24 Oct 2023

This digital resilience tipsheet compiled by Access Now and SMEX is designed to support you in defending against reported threats.

Guide
Staying safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza  
24 Oct 2023
Staying safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza