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
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.
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.
As the WEF meets, pressure is on world’s powerbrokers to shut down spyware industry
Brett Solomon, Daily Maverick
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.
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.
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 and vision on the future of human rights
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.
Las personas migrantes en Latinoamérica están siendo vigiladas por sus gobiernos
Civil society joint statement: Europe’s (digital) borders must fall
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.
#MigrarSinVigilancia
#MigrarSinVigilancia es un frente común para resguardar los derechos humanos de las personas migrantes desde la protección de sus datos personales.
Belarus Internet Governance Forum: no civil society dialogue from behind bars
Kritičari vlasti u Srbiji navodno meta špijunskog napada
Critics of Serbia’s government targeted with ‘military-grade spyware’
Spyware abuses travel to Serbia for first time
Spyware in Serbia: civil society under attack
Access Now and our partners have discovered that civil society in Serbia have been targeted with invasive spyware technology. Here’s what we know.
Claims that NSO’s Pegasus spyware helps Israel find hostages are ‘nonsense,’ experts say
Coalition warns Congress: don’t use legislative tricks to reauthorize surveillance abuse
FAQ: Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline and Apple threat notifications
Access Now’s knowledge about ongoing Apple threat notifications sent to people who may have been targeted by state-sponsored spyware attacks
Apple warns Armenians of state-sponsored hacking attempts
Democracy needs privacy: ban rights-violating spyware in India now
India must implement a ban on the use of rights-abusing commercial spyware and make a commitment to reform the country’s surveillance laws.
Cómo protegerse en línea en el contexto del conflicto en Gaza
La presente guía de consejos sobre resiliencia digital elaborada por Access Now y SMEX fue diseñada para brindarles apoyo contra las amenazas denunciadas.
Staying safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza
This digital resilience tipsheet compiled by Access Now and SMEX is designed to support you in defending against reported threats.