Press Releases

Press Releases

Spyware Armenia
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseEastern Europe & Central Asia

Spyware in warfare: Access Now documents first-time use of Pegasus tech in Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict

25 May 2023

Breaking: NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware is being used as a weapon in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict.

Press Release
Spyware in warfare: Access Now documents first-time use of Pegasus tech in Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict
25 May 2023
Spyware in warfare: Access Now documents first-time use of Pegasus tech in Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict
Ethiopian government internet
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfricaFrench

Arrêtez de couper l’internet en Guinée : les autorités doivent garder internet accessible pendant les manifestations

24 May 2023

Access Now et la coalition #KeepItOn condamnent fermement les coupures d’internet et la censure des médias dans le pays.

Press Release
Arrêtez de couper l’internet en Guinée : les autorités doivent garder internet accessible pendant les manifestations
24 May 2023
Arrêtez de couper l’internet en Guinée : les autorités doivent garder internet accessible pendant les manifestations
Tunisia digitization programs
Digital Identity Systems
Digital Identity SystemsPress ReleaseAfrica

Past learnings must be ‘at the heart of implementing’ a digital identity system in Kenya

24 May 2023
Press Release
Past learnings must be ‘at the heart of implementing’ a digital identity system in Kenya
24 May 2023
Past learnings must be ‘at the heart of implementing’ a digital identity system in Kenya
|Human rights problem with Google Cloud Platform in Saudi Arabia - Twitter thumbnail
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaArabic

السعودية: على “مايكروسوفت” تعليق خطط مركز البيانات

23 May 2023

ننضم إلى المجتمع المدني في دعوتنا لشركة مايكروسوفت بتعليق خططها لمراكز البيانات في المملكة العربية السعودية إلى أن تُبيّن الشركة كيف ستخفف الانتهاكات الحقوقية المحتملة.

Press Release
السعودية: على “مايكروسوفت” تعليق خطط مركز البيانات
23 May 2023
السعودية: على “مايكروسوفت” تعليق خطط مركز البيانات
|Human rights problem with Google Cloud Platform in Saudi Arabia - Twitter thumbnail
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseMiddle East & North AfricaEnglish

Saudi Arabia: Microsoft should suspend data center plans

23 May 2023

We join civil society in calling on Microsoft to suspend its data center plans in Saudia Arabia until it can demonstrate how it will mitigate potential rights abuses.

Press Release
Saudi Arabia: Microsoft should suspend data center plans
23 May 2023
Saudi Arabia: Microsoft should suspend data center plans
NoExamShutdown-Campaign-Header-Arabic
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseIraqEnglish

رسالة مفتوحة: على رئيس الوزراء العراقي أن يلتزم في جلسة مجلس الوزراء المقبلة بوعده بعدم #قطع_الإنترنت، ووضع حدّ لعمليات حجب الإنترنت أثناء الامتحانات

23 May 2023

رسالة إلى رئيس الوزراء العراقي للمطالبة بعدم حجب الانترنت خلال امتحانات الشهر المقبل.

Press Release
رسالة مفتوحة: على رئيس الوزراء العراقي أن يلتزم في جلسة مجلس الوزراء المقبلة بوعده بعدم #قطع_الإنترنت، ووضع حدّ لعمليات حجب الإنترنت أثناء الامتحانات
23 May 2023
رسالة مفتوحة: على رئيس الوزراء العراقي أن يلتزم في جلسة مجلس الوزراء المقبلة بوعده بعدم #قطع_الإنترنت، ووضع حدّ لعمليات حجب الإنترنت أثناء الامتحانات
#NoExamShutdown
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseIraqEnglish

Open Letter: The Prime Minister of Iraq must commit to #KeepItOn at the upcoming cabinet meeting, and put an end to internet shutdowns during exams

22 May 2023

Access Now and partners send a letter to the Iraqi Prime Minister to #KeepItOn during next month’s exams.

Press Release
Open Letter: The Prime Minister of Iraq must commit to #KeepItOn at the upcoming cabinet meeting, and put an end to internet shutdowns during exams
22 May 2023
Open Letter: The Prime Minister of Iraq must commit to #KeepItOn at the upcoming cabinet meeting, and put an end to internet shutdowns during exams
Ethiopian government internet
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAfrica

Stop shutting down the internet in Guinea: authorities must #KeepItOn amidst protest

22 May 2023

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition strongly condemn the internet shutdowns and media censorship in the country.

Press Release
Stop shutting down the internet in Guinea: authorities must #KeepItOn amidst protest
22 May 2023
Stop shutting down the internet in Guinea: authorities must #KeepItOn amidst protest
FIVE YEARS UNDER THE EU GDPR: BECOMING AN ENFORCEMENT SUCCESS
Press ReleaseEurope

Five years and counting: GDPR faces a make-or-break moment over enforcement

22 May 2023

In “Five years under the GDPR: An implementation progress report” Access Now explores how the GDPR could finally become a success.

Press Release
Five years and counting: GDPR faces a make-or-break moment over enforcement
22 May 2023
Five years and counting: GDPR faces a make-or-break moment over enforcement
|
Content Governance
Content GovernancePress ReleaseEnglish

Section 230 survives another challenge: U.S. Supreme Court rulings protect free expression online

18 May 2023

The U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings today in Twitter v. Taamneh and Gonzalez v. Google, a pair of cases centered on whether social media companies could be held liable for the terrorist content hosted and recommended via algorithm on their platforms, represent a major win for digital rights. 

Press Release
Section 230 survives another challenge: U.S. Supreme Court rulings protect free expression online
18 May 2023
Section 230 survives another challenge: U.S. Supreme Court rulings protect free expression online
Access Now condena el llamado de AMLO a cortar el financiamiento de Artículo 19
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseEnglish

Access Now condemns AMLO’s call to cut funding for Article 19

16 May 2023
Press Release
Access Now condemns AMLO’s call to cut funding for Article 19
16 May 2023
Access Now condemns AMLO’s call to cut funding for Article 19
Access Now condena el llamado de AMLO a cortar el financiamiento de Artículo 19
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of ExpressionPress ReleaseSpanish

Access Now condena el llamado de AMLO a cortar el financiamiento de Artículo 19

15 May 2023
Press Release
Access Now condena el llamado de AMLO a cortar el financiamiento de Artículo 19
15 May 2023
Access Now condena el llamado de AMLO a cortar el financiamiento de Artículo 19
civil and human rights
Data Protection
Data ProtectionPress ReleaseNorth AmericaEnglish

Access Now joins the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

11 May 2023

Access Now has joined the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR), a long-standing coalition of more than 230 organizations committed to advancing and protecting all persons’ civil and human rights in the United States.

Press Release
Access Now joins the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
11 May 2023
Access Now joins the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Image: AI's human rights impact
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial IntelligencePress ReleaseEuropeEnglish

Big wins, but gaps remain: European Parliament Committees vote to secure key rights protections in AI Act

11 May 2023

In a win for civil society, the European Parliament Committees have adopted their position on the Artificial Intelligence Act — integrating key human rights protections.

Press Release
Big wins, but gaps remain: European Parliament Committees vote to secure key rights protections in AI Act
11 May 2023
Big wins, but gaps remain: European Parliament Committees vote to secure key rights protections in AI Act
internet shutdown
Internet Shutdowns
Internet ShutdownsPress ReleaseAsia PacificEnglish

Internet and social media access must be restored in Pakistan to protect human rights

10 May 2023

The government of Pakistan must immediately restore — and protect — full access to the internet and social media.

Press Release
Internet and social media access must be restored in Pakistan to protect human rights
10 May 2023
Internet and social media access must be restored in Pakistan to protect human rights
Secret surveillance: countering spyware’s threats to freedom of the press and expression
Surveillance
SurveillancePress ReleaseGlobalSpanish

Declaración conjunta: Los Estados deben tomar medidas inmediatas para poner freno al software espía que amenaza la libertad de prensa

3 May 2023
Press Release
Declaración conjunta: Los Estados deben tomar medidas inmediatas para poner freno al software espía que amenaza la libertad de prensa
3 May 2023
Declaración conjunta: Los Estados deben tomar medidas inmediatas para poner freno al software espía que amenaza la libertad de prensa

Open letters

|Human rights problem with Google Cloud Platform in Saudi Arabia - Twitter thumbnail
Surveillance

السعودية: على “مايكروسوفت” تعليق خطط مركز البيانات

23 May 2023

ننضم إلى المجتمع المدني في دعوتنا لشركة مايكروسوفت بتعليق خططها لمراكز البيانات في المملكة العربية السعودية إلى أن تُبيّن الشركة كيف ستخفف الانتهاكات الحقوقية المحتملة.

Press Release
السعودية: على “مايكروسوفت” تعليق خطط مركز البيانات
23 May 2023
السعودية: على “مايكروسوفت” تعليق خطط مركز البيانات
|Human rights problem with Google Cloud Platform in Saudi Arabia - Twitter thumbnail
Surveillance

Saudi Arabia: Microsoft should suspend data center plans

23 May 2023

We join civil society in calling on Microsoft to suspend its data center plans in Saudia Arabia until it can demonstrate how it will mitigate potential rights abuses.

Press Release
Saudi Arabia: Microsoft should suspend data center plans
23 May 2023
Saudi Arabia: Microsoft should suspend data center plans
NoExamShutdown-Campaign-Header-Arabic
Internet Shutdowns

رسالة مفتوحة: على رئيس الوزراء العراقي أن يلتزم في جلسة مجلس الوزراء المقبلة بوعده بعدم #قطع_الإنترنت، ووضع حدّ لعمليات حجب الإنترنت أثناء الامتحانات

23 May 2023

رسالة إلى رئيس الوزراء العراقي للمطالبة بعدم حجب الانترنت خلال امتحانات الشهر المقبل.

Press Release
رسالة مفتوحة: على رئيس الوزراء العراقي أن يلتزم في جلسة مجلس الوزراء المقبلة بوعده بعدم #قطع_الإنترنت، ووضع حدّ لعمليات حجب الإنترنت أثناء الامتحانات
23 May 2023
رسالة مفتوحة: على رئيس الوزراء العراقي أن يلتزم في جلسة مجلس الوزراء المقبلة بوعده بعدم #قطع_الإنترنت، ووضع حدّ لعمليات حجب الإنترنت أثناء الامتحانات
#NoExamShutdown
Internet Shutdowns

Open Letter: The Prime Minister of Iraq must commit to #KeepItOn at the upcoming cabinet meeting, and put an end to internet shutdowns during exams

22 May 2023

Access Now and partners send a letter to the Iraqi Prime Minister to #KeepItOn during next month’s exams.

Press Release
Open Letter: The Prime Minister of Iraq must commit to #KeepItOn at the upcoming cabinet meeting, and put an end to internet shutdowns during exams
22 May 2023
Open Letter: The Prime Minister of Iraq must commit to #KeepItOn at the upcoming cabinet meeting, and put an end to internet shutdowns during exams

Statements

Tunisia digitization programs
Digital Identity Systems

Past learnings must be ‘at the heart of implementing’ a digital identity system in Kenya

24 May 2023
Press Release
Past learnings must be ‘at the heart of implementing’ a digital identity system in Kenya
24 May 2023
Past learnings must be ‘at the heart of implementing’ a digital identity system in Kenya
Secret surveillance: countering spyware’s threats to freedom of the press and expression
Surveillance

Declaración conjunta: Los Estados deben tomar medidas inmediatas para poner freno al software espía que amenaza la libertad de prensa

3 May 2023
Press Release
Declaración conjunta: Los Estados deben tomar medidas inmediatas para poner freno al software espía que amenaza la libertad de prensa
3 May 2023
Declaración conjunta: Los Estados deben tomar medidas inmediatas para poner freno al software espía que amenaza la libertad de prensa
Secret surveillance: countering spyware’s threats to freedom of the press and expression
Surveillance

Joint statement: States must take immediate action to stop spyware threatening press freedom

3 May 2023

Access Now and partners call on states to take immediate action to stop spyware threatening press freedom.

Press Release
Joint statement: States must take immediate action to stop spyware threatening press freedom
3 May 2023
Joint statement: States must take immediate action to stop spyware threatening press freedom
India fake news law
Freedom of Expression

India: New amendment to the Information Technology Rules that threatens press freedoms must be withdrawn

2 May 2023

Through a joint statement, Access Now and partners urge the government of India to withdraw a new “fake news” amendment to the IT Rules.

Press Release
India: New amendment to the Information Technology Rules that threatens press freedoms must be withdrawn
2 May 2023
India: New amendment to the Information Technology Rules that threatens press freedoms must be withdrawn
Protest and human rights
Freedom of Expression

32 Civil Society Organizations Condemn the Referral of Mada Masr Journalists to Trial

16 Mar 2023

We join rights groups in condemning the decision to refer three female journalists from Mada Masr on charges of insulting MPs and misusing social media.

Press Release
32 Civil Society Organizations Condemn the Referral of Mada Masr Journalists to Trial
16 Mar 2023
32 Civil Society Organizations Condemn the Referral of Mada Masr Journalists to Trial
AI Act
Privacy

Joint statement: The EU AI Act must protect people on the move

6 Dec 2022

The EU AI Act must protect all people from harmful uses of AI systems, regardless of their migration status.

Press Release
Joint statement: The EU AI Act must protect people on the move
6 Dec 2022
Joint statement: The EU AI Act must protect people on the move
Indonesia MR5 Amicus Brief
Content Governance

Joint statement: civil society welcomes independent human rights assessment on Meta’s content moderation in Palestine and Israel

27 Sep 2022

Through a joint statement, civil society commends BSR’s human rights assessment on Meta’s content moderation in Palestine and Israel.

Press Release
Joint statement: civil society welcomes independent human rights assessment on Meta’s content moderation in Palestine and Israel
27 Sep 2022
Joint statement: civil society welcomes independent human rights assessment on Meta’s content moderation in Palestine and Israel
|
Internet Shutdowns

Joint statement: authorities in Iran must ensure internet access during protests in Saqqez

19 Sep 2022

Through an open letter, civil society organizations call on Iran to keep the internet accessible in Saqqez.

Press Release
Joint statement: authorities in Iran must ensure internet access during protests in Saqqez
19 Sep 2022
Joint statement: authorities in Iran must ensure internet access during protests in Saqqez