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.

Syria sanctions
Digital Divide
Digital DividePress ReleaseMiddle East & North Africa

Access Now demands U.S. lift sanctions blocking Syria’s digital recovery

30 Jan 2025

Access Now joins the American Coalition for Syria, and over 160 civil society organizations in urging the U.S. government to expand sanctions relief in Syria.

Press Release
Access Now demands U.S. lift sanctions blocking Syria’s digital recovery
30 Jan 2025
Access Now demands U.S. lift sanctions blocking Syria’s digital recovery
ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseIsraelEnglish

Ceasefire in Gaza: it’s time to end digital harms and deliver justice

20 Jan 2025

As physical violence appears to be coming to a halt after 15 months in Gaza, Access Now further calls for a digital ceasefire.

Press Release
Ceasefire in Gaza: it’s time to end digital harms and deliver justice
20 Jan 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza: it’s time to end digital harms and deliver justice
Palestinian Authority
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaEnglish

The Palestinian Authority must stop silencing Al Jazeera and end its attacks on press freedom

9 Jan 2025

The Palestinian Authority must reverse its decision to block Al Jazeera websites and lift the suspension of its operations in the West Bank.

Press Release
The Palestinian Authority must stop silencing Al Jazeera and end its attacks on press freedom
9 Jan 2025
The Palestinian Authority must stop silencing Al Jazeera and end its attacks on press freedom
DRC #KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfrica

Ghana must uphold its record of no shutdowns — during upcoming elections, authorities must #KeepItOn

27 Nov 2024
Press Release
Ghana must uphold its record of no shutdowns — during upcoming elections, authorities must #KeepItOn
27 Nov 2024
Ghana must uphold its record of no shutdowns — during upcoming elections, authorities must #KeepItOn
ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice
Press ReleaseGlobalEnglish

Know your customer: ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice

21 Nov 2024
Press Release
Know your customer: ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice
21 Nov 2024
Know your customer: ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice
DRC #KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfrica

#KeepItOn in Tanzania: authorities must ensure connectivity during local elections

21 Nov 2024

The #KeepItOn coalition demands that the Government of Tanzania ensure unhindered access to the internet during the upcoming elections.

Press Release
#KeepItOn in Tanzania: authorities must ensure connectivity during local elections
21 Nov 2024
#KeepItOn in Tanzania: authorities must ensure connectivity during local elections
6-years-GDPR
Data Protection
Data ProtectionPress ReleaseEurope

Six years of the GDPR: we won’t pay for our right to data protection 

18 Nov 2024

Access Now’s new report, Six years of the GDPR: priced out of privacy, presents recommendations for the EU to address the incompatibility of “pay or consent” models with fundamental rights.

Press Release
Six years of the GDPR: we won’t pay for our right to data protection 
18 Nov 2024
Six years of the GDPR: we won’t pay for our right to data protection 
MENA Cybercrime Laws
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaArabic

حرية التعبير والخصوصية: حقوق محاصرة بالقوانين السيبرانية في المنطقة العربية

14 Nov 2024

في ظل الارتفاع الملحوظ في استخدام القوانين السيبرانية لاستهداف المدافعين عن حقوق الإنسان والأصوات المعارضة في المنطقة العربية، تطلق أكساس ناو ورقة سياسات جديدة.

Press Release
حرية التعبير والخصوصية: حقوق محاصرة بالقوانين السيبرانية في المنطقة العربية
14 Nov 2024
حرية التعبير والخصوصية: حقوق محاصرة بالقوانين السيبرانية في المنطقة العربية
Derecho al olvido Right to be forgotten
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseLatin AmericaSpanish

Access Now publica alternativas al “derecho al olvido” en América Latina

5 Nov 2024
Press Release
Access Now publica alternativas al “derecho al olvido” en América Latina
5 Nov 2024
Access Now publica alternativas al “derecho al olvido” en América Latina
DRC #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
South Sudan #KeepItOn
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

Open letters

GDPR procedural
Data Protection

Now or never: strengthen GDPR Procedural Rules to hold Big Tech accountable 

13 Feb 2025

The development of the proposed GDPR Procedural Regulation represents a missed opportunity to address enforcement challenges.

Press Release
Now or never: strengthen GDPR Procedural Rules to hold Big Tech accountable 
13 Feb 2025
Now or never: strengthen GDPR Procedural Rules to hold Big Tech accountable 
UK government Alaa
Freedom of Expression

Open letter: the UK government must act now to free Alaa

20 Dec 2024

The undersigned human rights organizations call on the UK government to take immediate action to free Alaa, and save his mother’s life.

Press Release
Open letter: the UK government must act now to free Alaa
20 Dec 2024
Open letter: the UK government must act now to free Alaa
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance

Civil society calls on the Polish Presidency to lead the EU in combating spyware abuse

17 Dec 2024

Alongside 13 civil society organisations, we call on the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to prioritise action against spyware misuse.

Press Release
Civil society calls on the Polish Presidency to lead the EU in combating spyware abuse
17 Dec 2024
Civil society calls on the Polish Presidency to lead the EU in combating spyware abuse
A pathway forward for digital rights by Brett Solomon
Transparency

OCHA: a new era for humanitarianism must include digital protection

28 Nov 2024

Access Now congratulates Tom Fletcher on his appointment as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Press Release
OCHA: a new era for humanitarianism must include digital protection
28 Nov 2024
OCHA: a new era for humanitarianism must include digital protection

Statements

مشروع قانون الإجراءات الجنائية
Cybersecurity

Privacy under attack: Egypt must reform its draft Criminal Procedure Code

12 Feb 2025

Authorities in Egypt must reject the proposed draft Criminal Procedure Code and develop a new code that aligns with international human rights standards.

Press Release
Privacy under attack: Egypt must reform its draft Criminal Procedure Code
12 Feb 2025
Privacy under attack: Egypt must reform its draft Criminal Procedure Code
مشروع قانون الإجراءات الجنائية
Cybersecurity

انتهاك الخصوصية.. على مصر تعديل مشروع قانون الإجراءات الجنائية

12 Feb 2025

تحث المنظمات الموقعة الحكومة المصرية على ضمان امتثال مشروع قانون الإجراءات الجنائية المقترح مؤخرا لالتزاماتها الدولية في مجال حقوق الإنسان.

Press Release
انتهاك الخصوصية.. على مصر تعديل مشروع قانون الإجراءات الجنائية
12 Feb 2025
انتهاك الخصوصية.. على مصر تعديل مشروع قانون الإجراءات الجنائية
DRC #KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: les autorités doivent rétablir l’accès à Goma et dans toute la RDC

5 Feb 2025

The #KeepItOn coalition urgently demand that authorities in the DRC stop imposing internet shutdowns amid the ongoing conflict.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: les autorités doivent rétablir l’accès à Goma et dans toute la RDC
5 Feb 2025
#KeepItOn: les autorités doivent rétablir l’accès à Goma et dans toute la RDC
DRC #KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: authorities must restore access in Goma and across the DRC

3 Feb 2025

The #KeepItOn coalition urgently demand that authorities in the DRC stop imposing internet shutdowns amid the ongoing conflict.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: authorities must restore access in Goma and across the DRC
3 Feb 2025
#KeepItOn: authorities must restore access in Goma and across the DRC
South Sudan #KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: authorities must restore access to social media in South Sudan and uphold human rights

24 Jan 2025

The #KeepItOn coalition demands the government of South Sudan put an immediate end to the ongoing social media shutdowns in the country.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: authorities must restore access to social media in South Sudan and uphold human rights
24 Jan 2025
#KeepItOn: authorities must restore access to social media in South Sudan and uphold human rights
U.S. blocklists Sandvine for enabling digital repression in Egypt
Freedom of Expression

Two years on, Balgh remains a tool of repression in Iraq

16 Jan 2025

Access Now, along with partner organizations, condemn the Iraqi authorities’ continued use of the Balgh platform to monitor online speech and curtail freedom of expression.

Press Release
Two years on, Balgh remains a tool of repression in Iraq
16 Jan 2025
Two years on, Balgh remains a tool of repression in Iraq
European Commission AI Act
Artificial Intelligence

Human rights and justice must be at the heart of the upcoming Commission guidelines on the AI Act implementation

16 Jan 2025

This statement was written by the AI Act civil society and the #ProtectNotSurveil coalitions following the EU Commission consultation on the AI Act.

Press Release
Human rights and justice must be at the heart of the upcoming Commission guidelines on the AI Act implementation
16 Jan 2025
Human rights and justice must be at the heart of the upcoming Commission guidelines on the AI Act implementation
WhatsApp v NSO case
Surveillance

Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case

13 Jan 2025

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.

Press Release
Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case
13 Jan 2025
Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case
UN Global Digital Compact
Transparency

Joint statement: civil society concerns and priorities for Global Digital Compact implementation

13 Dec 2024
Press Release
Joint statement: civil society concerns and priorities for Global Digital Compact implementation
13 Dec 2024
Joint statement: civil society concerns and priorities for Global Digital Compact implementation
Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024: when digital rights collide with digital oppression
Freedom of Expression

بيان مُشترك: المجتمع المدني يُطالب باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت

12 Dec 2024

منظمات حقوق الإنسان المُوقّعة أدناه، نحثّ حكومة السعودية على إطلاق سراح جميع المعتقلين الذين اعتقلتهم السلطات السعودية بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على الإنترنت

Press Release
بيان مُشترك: المجتمع المدني يُطالب باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت
12 Dec 2024
بيان مُشترك: المجتمع المدني يُطالب باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت
Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024: when digital rights collide with digital oppression
Freedom of Expression

Joint statement: civil society demands action ahead of Internet Governance Forum

12 Dec 2024

Civil society urges the government of Saudi Arabia to release people imprisoned for their online expression and foster transparency and accountability ahead of IGF 2024.

Press Release
Joint statement: civil society demands action ahead of Internet Governance Forum
12 Dec 2024
Joint statement: civil society demands action ahead of Internet Governance Forum
DRC #KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: authorities in Pakistan must stop the ongoing suppression of digital rights

12 Dec 2024

The #KeepItOn coalition urges the government of Pakistan to immediately bring an end to the ongoing blatant violation of fundamental rights in the country.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: authorities in Pakistan must stop the ongoing suppression of digital rights
12 Dec 2024
#KeepItOn: authorities in Pakistan must stop the ongoing suppression of digital rights
ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice
Freedom of Expression

Global coalition of NGOs call for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon

14 Nov 2024
Press Release
Global coalition of NGOs call for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
14 Nov 2024
Global coalition of NGOs call for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
Ceasefire in Gaza
Freedom of Expression

Statement on the targeting and killing of journalists in Palestine and Lebanon

11 Nov 2024

We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese journalists bravely reporting amid life-threatening risks.

Press Release
Statement on the targeting and killing of journalists in Palestine and Lebanon
11 Nov 2024
Statement on the targeting and killing of journalists in Palestine and Lebanon
South Sudan #KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: authorities in Kenya must restore access to Telegram and protect people’s rights

11 Nov 2024

The #KeepItOn coalition write to seek clarification on the ongoing disruption of the digital communications application, Telegram, in Kenya.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: authorities in Kenya must restore access to Telegram and protect people’s rights
11 Nov 2024
#KeepItOn: authorities in Kenya must restore access to Telegram and protect people’s rights
Mozambique #KeepItOn
Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn: authorities in Mozambique must stop normalizing internet shutdowns during protests

7 Nov 2024

We urgently demand that the government of Mozambique put an immediate end to the increasing use of shutdowns amid ongoing protests.

Press Release
#KeepItOn: authorities in Mozambique must stop normalizing internet shutdowns during protests
7 Nov 2024
#KeepItOn: authorities in Mozambique must stop normalizing internet shutdowns during protests