
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

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

WhatsApp says a spyware company targeted journalists and civilians

WhatsApp accuses Paragon of targeting about 90 users with spyware

Dozens of WhatsApp users targeted by Israeli spyware company

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

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

Tackling the “black snakes” undermining digital rights worldwide
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.

How Barcelona became an unlikely hub for spyware startups

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

Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case
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.

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

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

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

Why Apple sends spyware victims to this nonprofit security lab

Anti-genocide activists target Israeli drone manufacturer in Brooklyn
