Net Discrimination

Fighting for Net Neutrality

Paid “fast lanes” for the internet undermine free expression and innovation. Internet access should be offered to everyone on a nondiscriminatory basis, without favoring certain websites, applications, services, or business models.  We advocate for net neutrality to ensure access to a free and open internet around the world.

Civil society won’t back down: the fight for net neutrality continues in California

Internet service providers (ISPs) oppose SB 822, which grants California residents the best net neutrality protections in the United States.

Resources

Access Now theme

Connectivity

Zero rating: a global threat to the open internet

We discuss two primary models for “zero rating” — both of which are a form of network discrimination and harm human rights.

EU Ukraine

Connectivity

Open letter to the EU: protect people affected by Russia’s attack on Ukraine

In a letter to the EU, Access Now provides recommendations related to tech platforms and telecoms operators in the context of the war in Ukraine.

internet gateway

Data Protection

Cambodia should scrap rights-abusing National Internet Gateway

Access Now and a coalition of rights organizations call on Cambodia to revoke plans to establish an internet gateway.

Latest Updates

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A statement to our community on why RightsCon 2026 is not taking place in Zambia

1 Jun 2026
News
A statement to our community on why RightsCon 2026 is not taking place in Zambia
RightsCon ↗
1 Jun 2026
A statement to our community on why RightsCon 2026 is not taking place in Zambia
KeepItOn Internet Shutdowns 2025
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

The Guardian view on the splinternet: where China led, Iran and others are eagerly following

1 Jun 2026
News
The Guardian view on the splinternet: where China led, Iran and others are eagerly following
The Guardian ↗
1 Jun 2026
The Guardian view on the splinternet: where China led, Iran and others are eagerly following
Spyware
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity

Hackers are trying to steal Signal users’ backups in new wave of phishing attacks

29 May 2026
News
Hackers are trying to steal Signal users’ backups in new wave of phishing attacks
Tech Crunch ↗
29 May 2026
Hackers are trying to steal Signal users’ backups in new wave of phishing attacks
NSO
Surveillance
Surveillance

Access Now urges the Ninth Circuit to protect encryption from NSO’s spyware

21 May 2026

Yesterday, Access Now and ten other civil society organizations filed an amicus brief in the U.S.’ Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals calling to protect encryption from NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware and to keep the lower court’s permanent injunction forbidding NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp or its customers’ devices ever again.

Press Release
Access Now urges the Ninth Circuit to protect encryption from NSO’s spyware
21 May 2026
Access Now urges the Ninth Circuit to protect encryption from NSO’s spyware
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Content Governance
Content Governance

Palestinians risked their lives to document Gaza, then came the algorithm

21 May 2026
News
Palestinians risked their lives to document Gaza, then came the algorithm
WIRED ↗
21 May 2026
Palestinians risked their lives to document Gaza, then came the algorithm
NSO
Surveillance
Surveillance

What we know about how the U.S. government uses spyware (and what we don’t)

21 May 2026
News
What we know about how the U.S. government uses spyware (and what we don’t)
NPR ↗
21 May 2026
What we know about how the U.S. government uses spyware (and what we don’t)
Palestinian Authority
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

20 May 2026
Press Release
Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
20 May 2026
Meta blocks human rights accounts from reaching audiences in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
brightly coloured image of fists and signs
Content Governance
Content Governance

Criminalizing truth: Gulf governments must end the crackdown on information

20 May 2026
Press Release
Criminalizing truth: Gulf governments must end the crackdown on information
20 May 2026
Criminalizing truth: Gulf governments must end the crackdown on information
microsoft
Transparency
Transparency

Microsoft: it’s time to come clean about your ties to the Israeli military

18 May 2026

Through a new joint letter, we’re calling on Microsoft to publish the findings of its review into the Israeli military’s use of the company services.

Press Release
Microsoft: it’s time to come clean about your ties to the Israeli military
18 May 2026
Microsoft: it’s time to come clean about your ties to the Israeli military
microsoft
Transparency
Transparency

Joint letter to Microsoft regarding Israeli military use of Azure cloud and AI services

18 May 2026

A follow up to our open letter regarding Microsoft’s formal review of recent allegations about Israel’s usage of Azure cloud for the surveillance and targeting of Palestinians.

Press Release
Joint letter to Microsoft regarding Israeli military use of Azure cloud and AI services
18 May 2026
Joint letter to Microsoft regarding Israeli military use of Azure cloud and AI services
Internet shutdowns typology of harm socials
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

هل يصبح قطع الإنترنت جريمة ضد الإنسانية؟

17 May 2026
News
هل يصبح قطع الإنترنت جريمة ضد الإنسانية؟
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed ↗
17 May 2026
هل يصبح قطع الإنترنت جريمة ضد الإنسانية؟
KeepItOn Internet Shutdowns 2025
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

‘Blatant disregard for rights’: concern grows over Gabon’s social media clampdown

13 May 2026
News
‘Blatant disregard for rights’: concern grows over Gabon’s social media clampdown
The Guardian ↗
13 May 2026
‘Blatant disregard for rights’: concern grows over Gabon’s social media clampdown
Access Now theme-1340x360
Digital Rights
Digital Rights

Submission on amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”)

7 May 2026
Publication
Submission on amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”)
7 May 2026
Submission on amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”)
Green background with bitmap graphic depicting artificial intelligence icons and words.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Google le da la mano a Bukele para experimentar con el sistema de salud salvadoreño

7 May 2026
News
Google le da la mano a Bukele para experimentar con el sistema de salud salvadoreño
WIRED ↗
7 May 2026
Google le da la mano a Bukele para experimentar con el sistema de salud salvadoreño
Internet shutdowns typology of harm socials
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

The clandestine network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

2 May 2026
News
The clandestine network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout
BBC ↗
2 May 2026
The clandestine network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

Stay informed: Get Access Now updates

1 May 2026

Here’s where you can subscribe to the Access Now Express newsletter and action alerts.

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Stay informed: Get Access Now updates
1 May 2026
Stay informed: Get Access Now updates