Press Releases

Press releases

If you would like to arrange an interview with one of our Access Now experts, have a question, or are interested in further information on any of our areas of focus, please contact press [at] accessnow [dot] org.

KeepItOn Mauritius
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseEnglish

#KeepItOn Mauritius: global coalition urges first-time offender to end crackdown on social media

1 Nov 2024
Press Release
#KeepItOn Mauritius: global coalition urges first-time offender to end crackdown on social media
1 Nov 2024
#KeepItOn Mauritius: global coalition urges first-time offender to end crackdown on social media
KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfrica

Authorities and internet service providers in Mozambique must respect human rights and #KeepItOn during protests

31 Oct 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition unequivocally condemn the actions of authorities in Mozambique in shutting down the internet and blocking social media platforms.

Press Release
Authorities and internet service providers in Mozambique must respect human rights and #KeepItOn during protests
31 Oct 2024
Authorities and internet service providers in Mozambique must respect human rights and #KeepItOn during protests
Proceed with caution: Sandvine removed from U.S. Entity List
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseEnglish

Proceed with caution: Sandvine removed from U.S. Entity List despite poor human rights track record, Access Now urges continued scrutiny

23 Oct 2024
Press Release
Proceed with caution: Sandvine removed from U.S. Entity List despite poor human rights track record, Access Now urges continued scrutiny
23 Oct 2024
Proceed with caution: Sandvine removed from U.S. Entity List despite poor human rights track record, Access Now urges continued scrutiny
U.S. CBP One app
Transparency
TransparencyPress ReleaseLatin America & the CaribbeanEnglish

U.S. CBP releases records on controversial CBP One app after Access Now’s lawsuit

10 Oct 2024

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has finally released 2912 pages in documentation on CBP One app.

Press Release
U.S. CBP releases records on controversial CBP One app after Access Now’s lawsuit
10 Oct 2024
U.S. CBP releases records on controversial CBP One app after Access Now’s lawsuit
U.S. CBP One app
Transparency
TransparencyPress ReleaseLatin America & the CaribbeanSpanish

Agencia estadounidense CBP publica registros de la polémica aplicación CBP One tras demanda de Access Now

10 Oct 2024

La agencia de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de EE. UU. (CBP) publicó casi 3000 páginas de documentación sobre la aplicación para migrantes CBP One, tras demanda de la organización Access Now. 

Press Release
Agencia estadounidense CBP publica registros de la polémica aplicación CBP One tras demanda de Access Now
10 Oct 2024
Agencia estadounidense CBP publica registros de la polémica aplicación CBP One tras demanda de Access Now
Phishing infrastructure
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseBelarusEnglish

Access Now and Russian civil society victims help take down Russian phishing infrastructure

3 Oct 2024

Access Now filed a legal statement supporting Microsoft’s action against phishing infrastructure, which included statements from civil society.

Press Release
Access Now and Russian civil society victims help take down Russian phishing infrastructure
3 Oct 2024
Access Now and Russian civil society victims help take down Russian phishing infrastructure
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Privacy
PrivacyPress ReleaseAsia PacificEnglish

Access Now welcomes first set of amendments to Australia’s Privacy Act, but more needs to be done

13 Sep 2024
Press Release
Access Now welcomes first set of amendments to Australia’s Privacy Act, but more needs to be done
13 Sep 2024
Access Now welcomes first set of amendments to Australia’s Privacy Act, but more needs to be done
#KeepItOn in Sudan
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseMiddle East & North Africa

Break the silence on Sudan: an urgent call to action

5 Sep 2024

Over 50 civil society organizations urgently call upon the international community to step up and break the silence surrounding the brutal conflict in Sudan.

Press Release
Break the silence on Sudan: an urgent call to action
5 Sep 2024
Break the silence on Sudan: an urgent call to action
KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfrica

Who blocked access to X in Tanzania: civil society demands answers 

3 Sep 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition condemn the blocking of  X in Tanzania.

Press Release
Who blocked access to X in Tanzania: civil society demands answers 
3 Sep 2024
Who blocked access to X in Tanzania: civil society demands answers 
Myanmar VPN Ban
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseEastern Europe & Central Asia

Apple’s decision in Russia is rotten to the core — restore VPNs on App Store now

2 Sep 2024

Access Now, RKS Global, and civil society partners call on Apple to immediately restore all VPN service applications previously removed from its App Store in Russia

Press Release
Apple’s decision in Russia is rotten to the core — restore VPNs on App Store now
2 Sep 2024
Apple’s decision in Russia is rotten to the core — restore VPNs on App Store now
Rightscon logo 2024
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseGlobal

Human rights orgs and publishers launch initiative to get surveillance tech copaganda out of fiction

2 Sep 2024

In the hopes of a future that respects the human right to privacy, Fight for the Future, RightsCon, Strange Horizons, and COMPOST Magazine have launched a call for short stories to underpin a forthcoming toolkit at StopCopaganda.org.

Press Release
Human rights orgs and publishers launch initiative to get surveillance tech copaganda out of fiction
2 Sep 2024
Human rights orgs and publishers launch initiative to get surveillance tech copaganda out of fiction
Encryption
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseEurope

Access Now’s statement on French authorities’ detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov 

27 Aug 2024

Access Now, Article 19, and EFF urge the EU Commission to let their enforcement work be guided by evidence rather than political sentiment.

Press Release
Access Now’s statement on French authorities’ detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov 
27 Aug 2024
Access Now’s statement on French authorities’ detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov 
Open letter on technology-enabled political violence in Venezuela
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseLatin America & the Caribbean

#KeepItOn in Venezuela: Maduro must end his regime’s assault on free speech

27 Aug 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition are demanding the Nicolás Maduro regime stop imposing internet shutdowns and other human rights abuses in Venezuela in response to protests relating to the presidential election.

Press Release
#KeepItOn in Venezuela: Maduro must end his regime’s assault on free speech
27 Aug 2024
#KeepItOn in Venezuela: Maduro must end his regime’s assault on free speech
Open letter on technology-enabled political violence in Venezuela
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseLatin America & the CaribbeanSpanish

#KeepItOn en Venezuela: Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en tiempos de protesta y conflicto

27 Aug 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition are demanding the Nicolás Maduro regime stop imposing internet shutdowns and other human rights abuses in Venezuela in response to protests relating to the presidential election.

Press Release
#KeepItOn en Venezuela: Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en tiempos de protesta y conflicto
27 Aug 2024
#KeepItOn en Venezuela: Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en tiempos de protesta y conflicto
#KeepItOn report
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfricaEnglish

Africa in 2023: internet shutdowns attack democracy

26 Aug 2024
Press Release
Africa in 2023: internet shutdowns attack democracy
26 Aug 2024
Africa in 2023: internet shutdowns attack democracy
Rightscon logo 2024
Press ReleaseAsia Pacific

The Ministry of Digital Affairs welcomes RightsCon to Taiwan

21 Aug 2024

The Ministry of Digital Affairs, Taiwan, witnessed by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun of Executive Yuan, signed a Letter of Intent with Access Now.

Press Release
The Ministry of Digital Affairs welcomes RightsCon to Taiwan
21 Aug 2024
The Ministry of Digital Affairs welcomes RightsCon to Taiwan

Open letters

U.S. blocklists Sandvine for enabling digital repression in Egypt
Surveillance

Sandvine must make good on its commitments and stop harming human rights

31 Oct 2024

Access Now, along with partner civil society organizations and experts, demand evidence of the adequacy and effectiveness of Sandvine’s announced reforms.

Press Release
Sandvine must make good on its commitments and stop harming human rights
31 Oct 2024
Sandvine must make good on its commitments and stop harming human rights
smart borders
Privacy

EU leaders: change course and end your war on migrants

30 Oct 2024
Press Release
EU leaders: change course and end your war on migrants
30 Oct 2024
EU leaders: change course and end your war on migrants
Bodily harms: how AI and biometrics curtail human rights PR header
Artificial Intelligence

Public interest groups to Biden: you met with CEOs on AI, now meet us

7 Oct 2024

Demand Progress Education Fund, Access Now, and partner organizations demand a meeting with the U.S. government to discuss the impact of data centers.

Press Release
Public interest groups to Biden: you met with CEOs on AI, now meet us
7 Oct 2024
Public interest groups to Biden: you met with CEOs on AI, now meet us
2024 Joint civil society statement on cyber and human security
Digital Identity Systems

Open letter to European Commission: the dangers of age verification proposals to fundamental rights online

16 Sep 2024
Press Release
Open letter to European Commission: the dangers of age verification proposals to fundamental rights online
16 Sep 2024
Open letter to European Commission: the dangers of age verification proposals to fundamental rights online

Statements

KeepItOn Mauritius
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn Mauritius: global coalition urges first-time offender to end crackdown on social media

1 Nov 2024
Press Release
#KeepItOn Mauritius: global coalition urges first-time offender to end crackdown on social media
1 Nov 2024
#KeepItOn Mauritius: global coalition urges first-time offender to end crackdown on social media
Image: #FreeAlaa Campaign
Protest and Online Organizing

ينبغي إطلاق سراح علاء عبد الفتاح هذا الشهر بعد انتهاء مدة سجنه

25 Sep 2024

Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released on Sunday, 29 September at the end of his five year prison sentence.

Press Release
ينبغي إطلاق سراح علاء عبد الفتاح هذا الشهر بعد انتهاء مدة سجنه
25 Sep 2024
ينبغي إطلاق سراح علاء عبد الفتاح هذا الشهر بعد انتهاء مدة سجنه
Image: #FreeAlaa Campaign
Protest and Online Organizing

Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released this month at the end of his prison sentence

25 Sep 2024

Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released on Sunday, 29 September at the end of his five year prison sentence.

Press Release
Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released this month at the end of his prison sentence
25 Sep 2024
Alaa Abd el-Fattah must be released this month at the end of his prison sentence
#KeepItOn during elections
Internet Shutdowns

El Salvador: sociedad civil y periodistas exigen transparencia sobre interrupción de Telegram

24 Sep 2024

Las organizaciones firmantes denuncian bloqueos de los servicios de Telegram en El Salvador ocurridos entre junio y septiembre de este año.

Press Release
El Salvador: sociedad civil y periodistas exigen transparencia sobre interrupción de Telegram
24 Sep 2024
El Salvador: sociedad civil y periodistas exigen transparencia sobre interrupción de Telegram
A pathway forward for digital rights
Cybersecurity

Joint civil society statement on the ongoing sabotage of communication devices and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and Syria

23 Sep 2024

Access Now, with Arab Alliance for Digital Rights, strongly condemns the series of malicious and indiscriminate device explosions across Lebanon and Syria.

Press Release
Joint civil society statement on the ongoing sabotage of communication devices and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and Syria
23 Sep 2024
Joint civil society statement on the ongoing sabotage of communication devices and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and Syria
Bigger, bolder: U.S. slaps sanctions on spyware company and executives
Surveillance

Actions speak louder than words: U.S. slaps strong new sanctions on spyware company and executives

18 Sep 2024

The U.S. government sanctioned individuals associated with the Intellexa consortium. Access Now urges additional action to further rein in the unchecked surveillance tech industry.

Press Release
Actions speak louder than words: U.S. slaps strong new sanctions on spyware company and executives
18 Sep 2024
Actions speak louder than words: U.S. slaps strong new sanctions on spyware company and executives
Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill
Content Governance

Access Now condemns the suspension of X in Brazil

12 Sep 2024

Access Now opposes the suspension of X in Brazil and is concerned by the growing trend of blocking of entire online platforms and applications as a response to systemic non-compliance.

Press Release
Access Now condemns the suspension of X in Brazil
12 Sep 2024
Access Now condemns the suspension of X in Brazil
Saudi Arabia Internet Governance
Freedom of Expression

Joint Statement: Saudi Arabia must free detainees jailed for their online expression ahead of Internet Governance Forum

6 Sep 2024

Access Now, Amnesty International, and civil society partners demand Saudi Arabia free individuals detained for their online expression ahead the UN Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh.

Press Release
Joint Statement: Saudi Arabia must free detainees jailed for their online expression ahead of Internet Governance Forum
6 Sep 2024
Joint Statement: Saudi Arabia must free detainees jailed for their online expression ahead of Internet Governance Forum
Saudi Arabia Internet Governance
Transparency

بيان مشترك: على السلطات السعودية الإفراج عن المحتجزين بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على الإنترنت قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت

6 Sep 2024

نطالب، بالتعاون مع منظمات المجتمع المدني، السعودية بالإفراج عن الأشخاص المحتجزين بسبب تعبيرهم عبر الإنترنت قبل منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت.

Press Release
بيان مشترك: على السلطات السعودية الإفراج عن المحتجزين بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على الإنترنت قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت
6 Sep 2024
بيان مشترك: على السلطات السعودية الإفراج عن المحتجزين بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على الإنترنت قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت
Togo elections internet access
Internet Shutdowns

Joint statement: Sudan has suffered in silence for over 500 days

5 Sep 2024

After more than 500 days of brutal conflict in Sudan, the #KeepItOn coalition reiterates calls to reactivate telecommunication services.

Press Release
Joint statement: Sudan has suffered in silence for over 500 days
5 Sep 2024
Joint statement: Sudan has suffered in silence for over 500 days
Bigger, bolder: U.S. slaps sanctions on spyware company and executives
Surveillance

Civil society joint statement on the use of surveillance spyware in the EU and beyond

4 Sep 2024

Access Now, CDT, and a coalition of civil society organisations call on EU institutions to regulate spyware technologies in the new legislative term.

Press Release
Civil society joint statement on the use of surveillance spyware in the EU and beyond
4 Sep 2024
Civil society joint statement on the use of surveillance spyware in the EU and beyond
Encryption
Freedom of Expression

Access Now’s statement on French authorities’ detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov 

27 Aug 2024

Access Now, Article 19, and EFF urge the EU Commission to let their enforcement work be guided by evidence rather than political sentiment.

Press Release
Access Now’s statement on French authorities’ detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov 
27 Aug 2024
Access Now’s statement on French authorities’ detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov 
Open letter on technology-enabled political violence in Venezuela
Internet Shutdowns

Maduro must #KeepItOn in times of protest and unrest

27 Aug 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition demand that the Nicolás Maduro regime stop imposing internet shutdowns and blocking essential communications platforms in Venezuela.

Press Release
Maduro must #KeepItOn in times of protest and unrest
27 Aug 2024
Maduro must #KeepItOn in times of protest and unrest
Open letter on technology-enabled political violence in Venezuela
Internet Shutdowns

Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en épocas de protesta y conflicto

27 Aug 2024

Access Now y de la coalición #KeepItOn exigen que el régimen de Nicolás Maduro ponga fin a los apagones de internet en Venezuela.

Press Release
Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en épocas de protesta y conflicto
27 Aug 2024
Maduro debe mantener el acceso a internet en épocas de protesta y conflicto
Content Governance

Civil society statement: Commissioner Breton needs to stop politicising the Digital Services Act 

19 Aug 2024

Access Now, Article 19, and EFF urge the EU Commission to let their enforcement work be guided by evidence rather than political sentiment.

Press Release
Civil society statement: Commissioner Breton needs to stop politicising the Digital Services Act 
19 Aug 2024
Civil society statement: Commissioner Breton needs to stop politicising the Digital Services Act 
KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: Equatorial Guinea authorities must end internet shutdown and other human rights abuses in Annobón

13 Aug 2024

#KeepItOn coalition urges authorities in Equatorial Guinea to restore access to the internet and mobile telecommunication services in Annobón.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: Equatorial Guinea authorities must end internet shutdown and other human rights abuses in Annobón
13 Aug 2024
#KeepItOn: Equatorial Guinea authorities must end internet shutdown and other human rights abuses in Annobón