Addressing human rights abuses and attacks on press freedom facilitated by AppLogic Networks in Egypt

To:
Mr. Mark Driedger, Chief Executive Officer 
Ms. Carol Tate, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer
AppLogic Networks

Re: Addressing human rights abuses and attacks on press freedom facilitated by AppLogic Networks in Egypt

We, the undersigned human rights organizations and independent news platforms, are writing to express our serious concern regarding AppLogic Networks’ (formerly Sandvine) ongoing failure to provide full transparency about its withdrawal from Egypt and meaningful remedies to people affected by its past wrongful business in the country, including its continued refusal to meaningfully engage with Egyptian civil society,  independent media, and affected stakeholders, despite its earlier commitments and its goal to become “a champion of digital human rights.”

As part of the reforms cited in its removal from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List, AppLogic Networks publicly committed to exiting Egypt, among other non-democratic jurisdictions, by December 31, 2025,to address the misuse of its technology to facilitate digital repression and human rights abuses, including censorship and surveillance targeting journalists and media outlets. It also committed to “having better relationships and consultations with civil society and affected stakeholders” in support of internet freedom and digital rights. While we welcome the company’s recent announcement that it completed its withdrawal from over 20 countries, we demand a transparent accounting of AppLogic Networks’ compliance with its human rights commitments in Egypt, including providing clarity on how it plans to address possible abuses facilitated by its remaining equipment in Egypt and to remediate its past and possibly ongoing instances of human rights and digital abuse. 

For years, technical research from independent civil society organizations, including work done by Egyptian organizations such as Masaar, and in collaboration with Citizen Lab, has documented mass censorship and network interference traceable to AppLogic’s deep packet inspection technology. This censorship has disproportionately targeted over a hundred independent news websites, journalistic platforms, and media critical of Egyptian authorities.

Even after AppLogic Networks’ announcement, Egypt has continued to block independent media websites. OnFebruary 20, 2025, authorities blocked the Brussels-based independent media outlet Zawia3. In an attempt to circumvent the block, Zawia3 created an alternative domain (zawia3.net), but that domain was also blocked. Zawia3 has thus joined several other media platforms that are blocked in Egypt, including Al Manassa, bringing the total number of currently blocked websites in Egypt to at least 630 websites. AppLogic Networks should, therefore, clarify whether their technology is still being used by the Egyptian authorities, especially since the blocking is ongoing.

AppLogic Networks’ own public commitments to meaningful engagement with civil society, including consultations and engagement “with human rights groups and other stakeholders recommended by the U.S. Department of State,” have not translated into substantive, sustained dialogue with affected rightholders, civil society groups, journalists and independent media in Egypt. Access Now’s repeated efforts to facilitate engagement between AppLogic Networks and Egyptian civil society and media organizations were delayed for months and ultimately cancelled by the company at the last minute, under a vague claim of staff safety concerns, without meaningful alternative arrangements. This pattern of delayed, canceled, and selective engagement with some and not with others stands in direct contradiction to the stated commitment to consult affected stakeholders, particularly in Egypt, where harm has been well documented.

Moreover, we have not seen disclosures, testimonies, or other evidence showing the company is meeting its commitment to “donate 1% of future profits to organizations dedicated to protecting internet freedom and remediating instances of human rights and digital abuse.” We express serious doubts that the financial support announced as part of AppLogic’s commitments to remedy and rights work has not reached Egyptian or global majority civil society or independent media organizations, including those most affected by the misuse of its technology. The lack of transparency on the financial support allocation raises concerns that funding intended as a form of harm remediation is not being directed toward the communities and civil society actors most directly affected by the documented abuses, which in our understanding must include Egyptian organizations.

As we have previously emphasizedin our response to the company’s announced reforms back in October 2024, transparency, accountability, and access to remedy cannot be satisfied through press statements alone, but require concrete, verifiable actions. We, therefore, reiterate our demand for greater transparency and clarity regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of the measures taken so far to uphold and mitigate contributing to or facilitating human rights abuses and digital repression in Egypt and to provide remedies for abuses and damages caused. 

More than one month after the official December 31, 2025, deadline, we need a clear public accounting of full compliance with the exit timeline claimed by the company in Egypt, including evidence that the exit has been fully completed as well as transparent reporting on the status of hardware or ongoing use of AppLogic technology within Egypt. Due to the lack of engagement with civil society and independent media in Egypt, we urge AppLogic Networks to publicly disclose the following information, by Thursday, February 26, 2026:

• Documentation and concrete evidence confirming the complete exit from Egypt and full wind down of any operations or services in the country;
• A detailed report on any remaining AppLogic-branded or related hardware or contractual obligations in Egypt and how they are being rendered non-operational;
• Its plans to meaningfully engage with Egyptian civil society, journalists, media outlets, and impacted stakeholders; 
• An update regarding AppLogic Networks’s operations and disengagements in other high-risk and repressive environments and other jurisdictions where credible evidence links AppLogic technologies to censorship or surveillance abuses; and
• A disclosure of AppLogic’s remediation measures, including the donation of 1% of its profits or plans to do so, confirming the company has directed those funds towards impacted civil society organizations, press freedom groups, and human rights defenders; and outline any other remediation steps the company will take.

Without such transparency and action, AppLogic Networks’ announced reforms risk being perceived as mere public relations exercises rather than genuine shifts and reforms, and undermines its own stated commitments to protecting digital rights and interest freedoms.

Signatories:

• Access Now
• Al Manassa
• Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
• De|Center
• Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
• Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
• Masaar Foundation
• Red Line for Gulf (RL4G)
• Skyline International for Human Rights (SIHR)
• SMEX
• Zawia3