Protest and Online Organizing

Tunisia protest

Protests and Online Organizing

The right to protest is essential for the future of human rights, justice, and democracy. Protests and online organizing are evolving in digital spaces, and autocratic governments are responding with attempts to undermine privacy, quell dissent, and punish those who speak out. We demand governments and companies respect and protect our freedom to assemble, associate, and speak freely, online and off. We also offer activists and human rights defenders digital safety tools and resources.

Tunisia protest

Will the Right to Protest survive its migration online?

The human right to protest is crucial because it is a gateway right —  it onboards us to other rights. Even for those who have never participated in a protest, or ever plan to, many of the rights we enjoy today are the result of others in the past exercising their right to protest for those rights.

Resources

Content Governance

New world disorder: digital attacks on freedom of assembly

Access Now’s latest report examines the power — and fragility — of our rights to peaceful assembly and association in the digital era.

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Freedom of Expression

Iran: alarm over mass arrests of human rights defenders amidst protests

Civil society call for an end to the deliberate violence and arrests against human rights defenders, journalists, and activists during the Iran protests

Digital rights

Freedom of Expression

At the U.N., a new push to end surveillance of protesters — and protect their lawyers

Digital surveillance is threatening the right to protest worldwide. U.N. human rights expert Clément Voule is fighting for strong encryption and tight restrictions on the use of spyware. Here’s why that push is important for human rights lawyers and the activists they represent.

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Freedom of Expression

Arab Spring: ten years in, how can we reclaim the internet as an open space?

The internet played a pivotal role during the Arab Spring protests. But a decade on, the state of internet freedom in many Arab countries has deteriorated. Join us for a virtual conversation to explore the evolution of the digital space from a tool of mobilization to one of repression.

|Image: surveillance cameras on the street.

Covid-19

RightsCon spotlight: “The Privatised Panopticon: Workers’ Surveillance in the Digital Age”

In a session with European Digital Rights at RightsCon, we will explore how surveillance technology can make your workplace function like a prison: a privatised panopticon that threatens labour movements and undermines human rights.

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Digital Security

Human rights groups ask U.N. to intervene in U.S. crackdown on racial justice protesters

Access Now and partners ask the United Nations to take a stand against the U.S. government’s violent response to peaceful protests.

Digital Security

To #SaveDotOrg, we still need safeguards

Today, NTEN, EFF, and Access Now delivered the following letter to the leaders of ISOC and PIR calling on them to reflect and to take immediate action to adopt the safeguards put forward by the #SaveDotOrg campaign.

Latest Updates

How to stay safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza
Digital Security
Digital Security

Cómo protegerse en línea en el contexto del conflicto en Gaza  

26 Oct 2023

La presente guía de consejos sobre resiliencia digital elaborada por Access Now y SMEX fue diseñada para brindarles apoyo contra las amenazas denunciadas.

Guide
Cómo protegerse en línea en el contexto del conflicto en Gaza  
26 Oct 2023
Cómo protegerse en línea en el contexto del conflicto en Gaza  
Restore Telecoms and Internet Connectivity in Gaza Now!
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

DSA: the war on Gaza is not an excuse to silence people online

26 Oct 2023

The EU’s fast-tracked “solution” to the spread of illegal content online could result in long-term consequences to freedom of speech.

Press Release
DSA: the war on Gaza is not an excuse to silence people online
26 Oct 2023
DSA: the war on Gaza is not an excuse to silence people online
How to stay safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza
Digital Security
Digital Security

Staying safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza  

24 Oct 2023

This digital resilience tipsheet compiled by Access Now and SMEX is designed to support you in defending against reported threats.

Guide
Staying safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza  
24 Oct 2023
Staying safe online in the context of conflict in Gaza  
Gabon's election internet access
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Adiós a la opacidad: la Corte Constitucional de Colombia resolvió la sentencia sobre interrupciones a los servicios de internet

24 Oct 2023
Post
Adiós a la opacidad: la Corte Constitucional de Colombia resolvió la sentencia sobre interrupciones a los servicios de internet
24 Oct 2023
Adiós a la opacidad: la Corte Constitucional de Colombia resolvió la sentencia sobre interrupciones a los servicios de internet
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

دعوة مفتوحة من منظمات حقوق الإنسان لوقف فوري لإطلاق النار على الأرض ورقمياً في غزة، وبحق  الفلسطينيين/ات حول العالم

23 Oct 2023

نحن، مجموعة من مؤسسات المجتمع المدني ومنظمات حقوق الإنسان الرقمية، ننضم إلى الدعوة المفتوحة للوقف الفوري لإطلاق النار في غزة.

Press Release
دعوة مفتوحة من منظمات حقوق الإنسان لوقف فوري لإطلاق النار على الأرض ورقمياً في غزة، وبحق  الفلسطينيين/ات حول العالم
23 Oct 2023
دعوة مفتوحة من منظمات حقوق الإنسان لوقف فوري لإطلاق النار على الأرض ورقمياً في غزة، وبحق  الفلسطينيين/ات حول العالم
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Organizaciones de derechos humanos se unen al llamado abierto al cese al fuego en Gaza y el respeto por los derechos digitales del pueblo palestino en todo el mundo

20 Oct 2023

We call on international actors to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, along with a “digital ceasefire” to protect Palestinians in online spaces globally.

Press Release
Organizaciones de derechos humanos se unen al llamado abierto al cese al fuego en Gaza y el respeto por los derechos digitales del pueblo palestino en todo el mundo
20 Oct 2023
Organizaciones de derechos humanos se unen al llamado abierto al cese al fuego en Gaza y el respeto por los derechos digitales del pueblo palestino en todo el mundo
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Human rights organizations join the open call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza, and for Palestinians globally

20 Oct 2023

We call on international actors to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, along with a “digital ceasefire” to protect Palestinians in online spaces globally.

Press Release
Human rights organizations join the open call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza, and for Palestinians globally
20 Oct 2023
Human rights organizations join the open call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza, and for Palestinians globally
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza: UN, governments, Big Tech must act

20 Oct 2023

Governments, international institutions, tech companies, and other stakeholders must ensure a physical and digital ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Press Release
Physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza: UN, governments, Big Tech must act
20 Oct 2023
Physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza: UN, governments, Big Tech must act
|Chain link fence
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Joint Statement: Internet Governance Forum must reverse decision to make Saudi Arabia its next host

12 Oct 2023

An IGF 2024 hosted by Saudi Arabia is incompatible with the event’s multistakeholder model, as human rights risks make robust civil society engagement impossible.

Campaign
Joint Statement: Internet Governance Forum must reverse decision to make Saudi Arabia its next host
12 Oct 2023
Joint Statement: Internet Governance Forum must reverse decision to make Saudi Arabia its next host
Rightscon Korea
Transparency
Transparency

We’re headed to South Korea: the when, where, and why of our next convening

6 Oct 2023

We’re excited to announce that the 13th edition of the RightsCon Summit Series will be held in South Korea and online in February 2025!

Post
We’re headed to South Korea: the when, where, and why of our next convening
6 Oct 2023
We’re headed to South Korea: the when, where, and why of our next convening
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Where to find Access Now at FIFAfrica 2023

20 Sep 2023
Post
Where to find Access Now at FIFAfrica 2023
20 Sep 2023
Where to find Access Now at FIFAfrica 2023
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

COP28: UAE authorities must stop greenwashing human rights abuses

14 Sep 2023
Press Release
COP28: UAE authorities must stop greenwashing human rights abuses
14 Sep 2023
COP28: UAE authorities must stop greenwashing human rights abuses
Gabon's election internet access
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

The world must not forget Mahsa Amini

14 Sep 2023

It has been a year since Mahsa Amini died while in the custody of Iran’s “morality police,” leading to waves of protests across the country – and a subsequent crackdown by the country’s rulers against dissent, both offline and online. We’ve mapped some of the troubling trends in Iran’s digital authoritarian playbook.

Post
The world must not forget Mahsa Amini
14 Sep 2023
The world must not forget Mahsa Amini
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance
Surveillance

Open letter: Governments must address UAE human rights abuses ahead of COP28

14 Sep 2023

Access Now and over 200 organizations call on governments to address the UAE’s human rights abuses ahead of COP28.

Press Release
Open letter: Governments must address UAE human rights abuses ahead of COP28
14 Sep 2023
Open letter: Governments must address UAE human rights abuses ahead of COP28
Transparency
Transparency

An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next

31 Aug 2023

We explain the challenges and exclusion some participants faced, apologize and take accountability for our role, and share thoughts on the road ahead.

Post
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
31 Aug 2023
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
Net Neutrality
Content Governance
Content Governance

Online platforms must reject Cambodia prime minister’s incitement to violence

3 Jul 2023

Access Now urges digital platforms to remain alert to incendiary behavior and take steps to prevent online violence in Cambodia.

Press Release
Online platforms must reject Cambodia prime minister’s incitement to violence
3 Jul 2023
Online platforms must reject Cambodia prime minister’s incitement to violence