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.

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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

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

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 
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
Surveillance
Surveillance

Judge limits evidence about NSO Group customers, victims in damages trial

23 Apr 2025
News
Judge limits evidence about NSO Group customers, victims in damages trial
23 Apr 2025
Judge limits evidence about NSO Group customers, victims in damages trial
Bigger, bolder: U.S. slaps sanctions on spyware company and executives
Surveillance
Surveillance

Cyber experts offer lukewarm praise for voluntary code governing use of commercial hacking tools

11 Apr 2025
News
Cyber experts offer lukewarm praise for voluntary code governing use of commercial hacking tools
CyberScoop ↗
11 Apr 2025
Cyber experts offer lukewarm praise for voluntary code governing use of commercial hacking tools
Proceed with caution: Sandvine removed from U.S. Entity List
Surveillance
Surveillance

U.S. to sign Pall Mall pact aimed at countering spyware abuses

11 Apr 2025
News
U.S. to sign Pall Mall pact aimed at countering spyware abuses
The Record ↗
11 Apr 2025
U.S. to sign Pall Mall pact aimed at countering spyware abuses
Surveillance
Surveillance

Spyware maker NSO Group is paving a path back into Trump’s America

10 Apr 2025
News
Spyware maker NSO Group is paving a path back into Trump’s America
WIRED ↗
10 Apr 2025
Spyware maker NSO Group is paving a path back into Trump’s America
NSO
Surveillance
Surveillance

The talented Mr. Kurz: how Austria’s ex-leader made it big in Israel’s cyber industry

9 Apr 2025
News
The talented Mr. Kurz: how Austria’s ex-leader made it big in Israel’s cyber industry
Follow the Money ↗
9 Apr 2025
The talented Mr. Kurz: how Austria’s ex-leader made it big in Israel’s cyber industry
Myanmar's digital dictatorship
Digital Identity Systems
Digital Identity Systems

Fourth year under Myanmar military’s digital iron curtain

4 Mar 2025
News
Fourth year under Myanmar military’s digital iron curtain
Tech Policy Press ↗
4 Mar 2025
Fourth year under Myanmar military’s digital iron curtain
Surveillance
Surveillance

Why the new Europol regulation is a Trojan Horse for surveillance

21 Feb 2025
News
Why the new Europol regulation is a Trojan Horse for surveillance
EU Observer ↗
21 Feb 2025
Why the new Europol regulation is a Trojan Horse for surveillance
Protect Not Surveil
Surveillance
Surveillance

How a new Europol reform threatens digital war on migrants

20 Feb 2025

The #ProtectNotSurveil coalition analyses a proposed reform of the Europol agency which will increase unlawful surveillance against migrants.

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How a new Europol reform threatens digital war on migrants
20 Feb 2025
How a new Europol reform threatens digital war on migrants
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
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