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Marwa Fatafta

MENA Policy and Advocacy Director

Marwa leads Access Now’s policy and advocacy work on digital rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Her work spans a number of issues at the nexus of human rights and technology including content governance and platform accountability, online censorship, digital surveillance, and transnational repression. She has written extensively on the digital occupation in Palestine and focuses on the role of new technologies in armed conflicts and humanitarian contexts and their impact on historically marginalized and oppressed communities. Marwa is a Policy Analyst at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, an advisory board member of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, and an advisory committee member for Bread&Net. Marwa was a Fulbright scholar in the US and holds an MA in International Relations from Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. She holds a second MA in Development and Governance from the University of Duisburg-Essen.
EU-Israel data transfer

EU-Israel data transfer adequacy greenlit again: NGOs call for scrutiny over red flags

22 Apr 2024

Access Now and other organisations are calling on the European Commission to scrutinise its decision to re-confirm the data transfer adequacy with Israel.

Press Release
EU-Israel data transfer adequacy greenlit again: NGOs call for scrutiny over red flags
22 Apr 2024
EU-Israel data transfer adequacy greenlit again: NGOs call for scrutiny over red flags
Cover Image: It's not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices

Meta is revisiting its hate speech policy on Zionism — here’s why it’s (still) a bad idea

27 Mar 2024

Meta is (re)considering how to moderate content involving the term “Zionist.” Here’s why this hate speech policy is (still) a bad idea.

Post
Meta is revisiting its hate speech policy on Zionism — here’s why it’s (still) a bad idea
27 Mar 2024
Meta is revisiting its hate speech policy on Zionism — here’s why it’s (still) a bad idea
Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill

A step in the right direction: Meta Oversight Board’s opinion on the term “shaheed”

26 Mar 2024

Access Now welcome the Oversight Board’s opinion urging Meta to end its blanket ban on the term “shaheed” when referring to individuals designated as dangerous.

Press Release
A step in the right direction: Meta Oversight Board’s opinion on the term “shaheed”
26 Mar 2024
A step in the right direction: Meta Oversight Board’s opinion on the term “shaheed”
Tunisian Biometric ID and Passport

Eight years in the making: Tunisia’s controversial Biometric ID and Passport Bills risk rights

7 Mar 2024

On March 6, the Tunisian Parliament officially adopted two controversial bills related to the Biometric ID and Passport.

Press Release
Eight years in the making: Tunisia’s controversial Biometric ID and Passport Bills risk rights
7 Mar 2024
Eight years in the making: Tunisia’s controversial Biometric ID and Passport Bills risk rights
Cover Image: It's not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices

It’s not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices

19 Feb 2024

This Access Now report documented cases of how Meta censors Palestinian voices on Facebook and Instagram.

Publication
It’s not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices
19 Feb 2024
It’s not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices
Cover Image: It's not a glitch: how Meta systematically censors Palestinian voices

Meta must act: stop the systematic censorship of Palestinian voices

19 Feb 2024

Meta’s ongoing censorship of Palestine-related content during times of conflict is a systemic issue, not a glitch that needs addressing.

Press Release
Meta must act: stop the systematic censorship of Palestinian voices
19 Feb 2024
Meta must act: stop the systematic censorship of Palestinian voices
#StopSilencingPalestine: U.S. Senator joins civil society's call

A coalition of international organizations demands that Meta refrain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms

12 Feb 2024

Access Now joins over 70 civil society organizations in urging Meta to abstain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms.

Press Release
A coalition of international organizations demands that Meta refrain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms
12 Feb 2024
A coalition of international organizations demands that Meta refrain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms
#KeepItOn during elections

#KeepItOn in times of war: Sudan’s communications shutdown must be reversed urgently 

9 Feb 2024

The warring parties in Sudan must immediately end the disruption of internet access across the country and #KeepItOn!

Press Release
#KeepItOn in times of war: Sudan’s communications shutdown must be reversed urgently 
9 Feb 2024
#KeepItOn in times of war: Sudan’s communications shutdown must be reversed urgently 
Image of the investigation report on how Pegasus crushes civic space in Jordan

New spyware attacks exposed: civil society targeted in Jordan

1 Feb 2024

A new joint investigation reveals the widespread use of Israeli-owned NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware in Jordan.

Press Release
New spyware attacks exposed: civil society targeted in Jordan
1 Feb 2024
New spyware attacks exposed: civil society targeted in Jordan

Saudi Arabia: Birthday in jail: Saudi Wikipedian Osama Khalid Remains Unjustly Imprisoned on his 30th Birthday

19 Jan 2024

Access Now and partners demand his release demand the release of Saudi pediatrician Osama Khaled, who celebrates today his 30th birthday behind bars.

Press Release
Saudi Arabia: Birthday in jail: Saudi Wikipedian Osama Khalid Remains Unjustly Imprisoned on his 30th Birthday
19 Jan 2024
Saudi Arabia: Birthday in jail: Saudi Wikipedian Osama Khalid Remains Unjustly Imprisoned on his 30th Birthday