News & Updates

News & updates

Stay up to date with Access Now’s latest news, analysis, reports, events, community resources, and more. For a weekly digest in your inbox, subscribe to the Access Now Express, or scroll down to see the latest.

Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPostAfrica

Where to find Access Now at FIFAfrica 2023

20 Sep 2023
Post
Where to find Access Now at FIFAfrica 2023
20 Sep 2023
Where to find Access Now at FIFAfrica 2023
Data Protection
Data ProtectionPress ReleaseJordanEnglish

Jordan passes flawed data protection law

20 Sep 2023

Jordan has finally passed a data protection law. However, the text still ignores major shortcomings.

Press Release
Jordan passes flawed data protection law
20 Sep 2023
Jordan passes flawed data protection law
AI Act
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial IntelligencePress ReleaseEuropeEnglish

EU policymakers: regulate police technology!

20 Sep 2023

Civil society calls on EU policymakers to regulate policy technology.

Press Release
EU policymakers: regulate police technology!
20 Sep 2023
EU policymakers: regulate police technology!
DSA internet blocking
Content Governance
Content GovernancePostEuropeEnglish

Fundamental rights impact assessments are key for effective DSA enforcement 

18 Sep 2023

Under the EU DSA, companies designated as VLOPs or VLOSEs must assess fundamental rights risks stemming from their services. Access Now and ECNL have published a new policy paper to support enforcement of this requirement.

Post
Fundamental rights impact assessments are key for effective DSA enforcement 
18 Sep 2023
Fundamental rights impact assessments are key for effective DSA enforcement 
DSA internet blocking
Content Governance
Content GovernancePublicationEuropeEnglish

Towards meaningful fundamental rights impact assessments under the DSA

18 Sep 2023
Publication
Towards meaningful fundamental rights impact assessments under the DSA
18 Sep 2023
Towards meaningful fundamental rights impact assessments under the DSA
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaArabic

شركة إكس لإيلون ماسك يجب أن تضمن السلامة لمستخدميها، مع إصدار السلطات السعودية أول عقوبة إعدام لمجرد النشاط على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي

15 Sep 2023

أكساس ناو تنضم إلى الشركاء في دعوة شركة إكس لإيلون ماسك للأولوية في حماية مستخدميها، عقب إدانة فرد بالإعدام من قبل السلطات السعودية استنادًا فقط إلى نشاطهم على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي.

Press Release
شركة إكس لإيلون ماسك يجب أن تضمن السلامة لمستخدميها، مع إصدار السلطات السعودية أول عقوبة إعدام لمجرد النشاط على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي
15 Sep 2023
شركة إكس لإيلون ماسك يجب أن تضمن السلامة لمستخدميها، مع إصدار السلطات السعودية أول عقوبة إعدام لمجرد النشاط على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaEnglish

Elon Musk’s X must ensure safety of users, as Saudi authorities issue first death sentence solely for social media activity

15 Sep 2023

Access Now joins partners in urging Elon Musk’s X to prioritize the protection of its users, following the sentencing of an individual to death by Saudi Arabian authorities solely based on their social media activity.

Press Release
Elon Musk’s X must ensure safety of users, as Saudi authorities issue first death sentence solely for social media activity
15 Sep 2023
Elon Musk’s X must ensure safety of users, as Saudi authorities issue first death sentence solely for social media activity
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaEnglish

COP28: UAE authorities must stop greenwashing human rights abuses

14 Sep 2023
Press Release
COP28: UAE authorities must stop greenwashing human rights abuses
14 Sep 2023
COP28: UAE authorities must stop greenwashing human rights abuses
Gabon's election internet access
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online OrganizingPostIranEnglish

The world must not forget Mahsa Amini

14 Sep 2023

It has been a year since Mahsa Amini died while in the custody of Iran’s “morality police,” leading to waves of protests across the country – and a subsequent crackdown by the country’s rulers against dissent, both offline and online. We’ve mapped some of the troubling trends in Iran’s digital authoritarian playbook.

Post
The world must not forget Mahsa Amini
14 Sep 2023
The world must not forget Mahsa Amini
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaEnglish

Open letter: Governments must address UAE human rights abuses ahead of COP28

14 Sep 2023

Access Now and over 200 organizations call on governments to address the UAE’s human rights abuses ahead of COP28.

Press Release
Open letter: Governments must address UAE human rights abuses ahead of COP28
14 Sep 2023
Open letter: Governments must address UAE human rights abuses ahead of COP28
A new investigation by Access Now and Citizen Lab reveals first-time use of Pegasus spyware against a Russian journalist.
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseEastern Europe & Central AsiaEnglish

Exiled media under attack: Access Now documents first-time use of Pegasus against Russian journalist

13 Sep 2023

A new investigation by Access Now and Citizen Lab reveals first-time use of Pegasus spyware against exiled Russian media.

Press Release
Exiled media under attack: Access Now documents first-time use of Pegasus against Russian journalist
13 Sep 2023
Exiled media under attack: Access Now documents first-time use of Pegasus against Russian journalist
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
Surveillance
SurveillancePublicationEastern Europe & Central AsiaEnglish

Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic

13 Sep 2023

The publisher of Russian independent media org Meduza was hacked with NSO’s Pegasus spyware. As both Russia and Latvia are potential culprits, Access Now demands accountability and sanctions.

Publication
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
13 Sep 2023
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
Ethiopian government internet
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfricaEnglish

Authorities in Ethiopia must restore internet access in Amhara

12 Sep 2023
Press Release
Authorities in Ethiopia must restore internet access in Amhara
12 Sep 2023
Authorities in Ethiopia must restore internet access in Amhara
Ethiopian government internet
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfricaEnglish

Preserving freedom in crisis: Ethiopia’s internet shutdowns must not become the norm

12 Sep 2023

Authorities in Ethiopia must stop the trend of internet shutdowns and restore access to the internet in Amhara.

Press Release
Preserving freedom in crisis: Ethiopia’s internet shutdowns must not become the norm
12 Sep 2023
Preserving freedom in crisis: Ethiopia’s internet shutdowns must not become the norm
AI Act
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial IntelligencePress ReleaseEuropeEnglish

Joint statement: EU legislators must close dangerous loophole in AI Act

7 Sep 2023

Big Tech has lobbied to introduce a major loophole to the EU AI Act’s high-risk classification process. We call on EU legislators to maintain a high level of protection in the AI Act. 

Press Release
Joint statement: EU legislators must close dangerous loophole in AI Act
7 Sep 2023
Joint statement: EU legislators must close dangerous loophole in AI Act
Transparency
TransparencyPostGlobal

An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next

31 Aug 2023

We explain the challenges and exclusion some participants faced, apologize and take accountability for our role, and share thoughts on the road ahead.

Post
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
31 Aug 2023
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseAsia PacificEnglish

Stop mass surveillance in India: the government must be held accountable

31 Aug 2023

Access Now demands that the Indian government’s surveillance impunity ends now.

Press Release
Stop mass surveillance in India: the government must be held accountable
31 Aug 2023
Stop mass surveillance in India: the government must be held accountable
Unveiling DHS’s Injustice systems in Immigration Processes for Salvadoran immigrants
Surveillance
SurveillancePostLatin AmericaSpanish

El Salvador: cómo los datos poco fiables acorralan a las personas migrantes en Estados Unidos

30 Aug 2023
Post
El Salvador: cómo los datos poco fiables acorralan a las personas migrantes en Estados Unidos
30 Aug 2023
El Salvador: cómo los datos poco fiables acorralan a las personas migrantes en Estados Unidos
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaEnglish

19 civil society organizations call on US administration to press the UAE to release Ahmed Mansoor ahead of COP 28

30 Aug 2023

In a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, we urge him to call upon the UAE government to promptly and unconditionally release Ahmed Mansoor.

Press Release
19 civil society organizations call on US administration to press the UAE to release Ahmed Mansoor ahead of COP 28
30 Aug 2023
19 civil society organizations call on US administration to press the UAE to release Ahmed Mansoor ahead of COP 28
Unveiling DHS’s Injustice systems in Immigration Processes for Salvadoran immigrants
Surveillance
SurveillancePostEl SalvadorEnglish

El Salvador: how dirty data entraps immigrants to the U.S.

30 Aug 2023

The U.S. is using unreliable information from El Salvador for immigration processes, entrapping innocent immigrants. It’s time to stop dirty data-sharing agreements, reform the process, and protect people’s rights.

Post
El Salvador: how dirty data entraps immigrants to the U.S.
30 Aug 2023
El Salvador: how dirty data entraps immigrants to the U.S.

Access Now in the news

Press under Attack – Digital Strategies to Intimidate Journalists in Latin America
Digital Rights

Meta releases second human rights report, activists say no concrete plan to tackle issues in India

20 Sep 2023
News
Meta releases second human rights report, activists say no concrete plan to tackle issues in India
The Wire ↗
20 Sep 2023
Meta releases second human rights report, activists say no concrete plan to tackle issues in India
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
Surveillance

The ramifications of spyware targeting a Russian journalist

19 Sep 2023
News
The ramifications of spyware targeting a Russian journalist
Washington Post ↗
19 Sep 2023
The ramifications of spyware targeting a Russian journalist
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance

More Russian journalists investigating possible spyware infections

15 Sep 2023
News
More Russian journalists investigating possible spyware infections
The Record ↗
15 Sep 2023
More Russian journalists investigating possible spyware infections
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance

Exiled Russian media co-founder targeted by Pegasus spyware

14 Sep 2023
News
Exiled Russian media co-founder targeted by Pegasus spyware
OCCRP ↗
14 Sep 2023
Exiled Russian media co-founder targeted by Pegasus spyware
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance

Census or spy op? Upcoming population count raises alarm

14 Sep 2023
News
Census or spy op? Upcoming population count raises alarm
Frontier ↗
14 Sep 2023
Census or spy op? Upcoming population count raises alarm
Spyware: a threat to human rights and democracy
Surveillance

Spyware critics sound off in wake of hack of Russian journalist

14 Sep 2023
News
Spyware critics sound off in wake of hack of Russian journalist
The Washington Post ↗
14 Sep 2023
Spyware critics sound off in wake of hack of Russian journalist
Gabon's election internet access
Internet Shutdowns

Iran steps up internet crackdown one year after Mahsa Amini death

14 Sep 2023
News
Iran steps up internet crackdown one year after Mahsa Amini death
Context ↗
14 Sep 2023
Iran steps up internet crackdown one year after Mahsa Amini death
Gabon's election internet access
Internet Shutdowns

India keeps pulling the plug on its digital economy

14 Sep 2023
News
India keeps pulling the plug on its digital economy
The Wall Street Journal ↗
14 Sep 2023
India keeps pulling the plug on its digital economy
NSO Group
Surveillance

The million-dollar reporter

13 Sep 2023
News
The million-dollar reporter
Meduza ↗
13 Sep 2023
The million-dollar reporter
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance

In first, Russian journalist hacked with Pegasus

13 Sep 2023
News
In first, Russian journalist hacked with Pegasus
Washington Post ↗
13 Sep 2023
In first, Russian journalist hacked with Pegasus
Joint Appeal COP28
Surveillance

Exiled Russian journalist hacked using NSO Group spyware

13 Sep 2023
News
Exiled Russian journalist hacked using NSO Group spyware
The Guardian ↗
13 Sep 2023
Exiled Russian journalist hacked using NSO Group spyware
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
Surveillance

Russia-Ukraine war updates: Kyiv says Russian targets damaged in Crimea

13 Sep 2023
News
Russia-Ukraine war updates: Kyiv says Russian targets damaged in Crimea
Al Jazeera ↗
13 Sep 2023
Russia-Ukraine war updates: Kyiv says Russian targets damaged in Crimea
Gabon's election internet access
Internet Shutdowns

မြန်မာမှာ အင်တာနက်အပြင် ဒေသတချို့ ဖုန်းလိုင်းဖြတ်တောက်ခံထားရ

12 Sep 2023
News
မြန်မာမှာ အင်တာနက်အပြင် ဒေသတချို့ ဖုန်းလိုင်းဖြတ်တောက်ခံထားရ
BBC Burmese ↗
12 Sep 2023
မြန်မာမှာ အင်တာနက်အပြင် ဒေသတချို့ ဖုန်းလိုင်းဖြတ်တောက်ခံထားရ
ヨルダン国王への公開書簡
Freedom of Expression

Control+Alt+Suppress: Jordan’s cybercrime bill and the growth of state censorship

8 Sep 2023
News
Control+Alt+Suppress: Jordan’s cybercrime bill and the growth of state censorship
The New Arab Voice ↗
8 Sep 2023
Control+Alt+Suppress: Jordan’s cybercrime bill and the growth of state censorship
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance

ما خفي أعظم ــ الفضاء المغلق

8 Sep 2023
News
ما خفي أعظم ــ الفضاء المغلق
Al Jazeera ↗
8 Sep 2023
ما خفي أعظم ــ الفضاء المغلق
Gabon's election internet access
Internet Shutdowns

India’s G20 opportunity: Internet shutdowns hamper Digital India promise – it’s time to commit to ending them

7 Sep 2023
News
India’s G20 opportunity: Internet shutdowns hamper Digital India promise – it’s time to commit to ending them
The Indian Express ↗
7 Sep 2023
India’s G20 opportunity: Internet shutdowns hamper Digital India promise – it’s time to commit to ending them

Events

Join us at an upcoming event hosted by Access Now or our partners, and reach out to connect with us in person or online.

Internet Governance Forum

Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Japan 2023

October 8 @ 8:00 am October 12 @ 5:30 pm JST

Event
Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Japan 2023

October 8 @ 8:00 am October 12 @ 5:30 pm JST

Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Japan 2023
FIFAfrica 23
Internet Shutdowns

Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) 2023

September 27 @ 9:00 am September 29 @ 5:00 pm EAT

The annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) hosted by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) will be held in Dar es Salam, Tanzania on September 27-29, 2023.

Event
Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) 2023

September 27 @ 9:00 am September 29 @ 5:00 pm EAT

Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) 2023
UN Cybercrime Treaty
Cybersecurity

Media briefing: critical human rights issues at stake in the draft UN Cybercrime Treaty

August 23 @ 1:30 pm 2:30 pm EDT

Experts from EFF, Human Rights Watch, and four internationalallies will brief reporters on critical flaws in the draft UN Cybercrime Treaty

Event
Media briefing: critical human rights issues at stake in the draft UN Cybercrime Treaty

August 23 @ 1:30 pm 2:30 pm EDT

Media briefing: critical human rights issues at stake in the draft UN Cybercrime Treaty
Gendered disinfo in Tunisia
Freedom of Expression

From catalyst for freedom to tool for repression: social media and gendered disinformation in Tunisia?

July 13 @ 2:00 pm 3:00 pm CET

On the 13th of July, join us with #ShePersisted for a one hour online event on the impact of gendered disinformation in Tunisia.

Event
From catalyst for freedom to tool for repression: social media and gendered disinformation in Tunisia?

July 13 @ 2:00 pm 3:00 pm CET

From catalyst for freedom to tool for repression: social media and gendered disinformation in Tunisia?