Surveillance

STANDING UP TO SURVEILLANCE

We fight surveillance laws, policies, and practices that undermine human rights. From investigating spyware attacks that target human rights defenders to fighting biometric surveillance systems that put entire communities at risk, we work to hold manufacturers and investors accountable for the impact of dangerous surveillance tech and push for strict regulations to prevent widespread abuse.

Ban Biometric Surveillance

Some surveillance technologies are so dangerous that they inevitably cause far more problems than they solve. The use of facial recognition and remote biometric technologies in publicly accessible spaces enables mass surveillance and discriminatory targeted surveillance.

Resources

Spyware: a threat to human rights and democracy

Data Protection

Geneva Declaration: international community unites to end spyware abuse

Access Now and the Government of Catalonia are calling for an end to the proliferation of surveillance tech through the Geneva Declaration.

Musk

Digital Security

New guide: surveillance technology investors face significant risks if human rights are ignored

A new guide on effective due diligence will help shareholders with investments in surveillance technology prevent and mitigate human rights risks.

Voice recognition tech header image|voice recognition technology social card image

Data Protection

Sonic surveillance: why you don’t want AI snooping on you

The threat voice recognition technology poses to our rights needs to be addressed now — before our voices become yet another piece of biometric data to be used against us.

Más allá de Pegasus: políticas públicas contra periodistas y sociedad civil en El Salvador

Digital Security

Unsafe anywhere: attacked by Pegasus, women activists speak out

Front Line Defenders and Access Now’s new report, “Unsafe anywhere: women human rights defenders speak out about Pegasus attacks,” unpacks the first-hand experiences of women navigating an increasingly hostile and dangerous environment.

مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28

Digital Security

MENA Surveillance Coalition: stop all surveillance tech sales to the region’s autocratic governments

The MENA Surveillance Coalition is demanding the immediate end to the sale of surveillance technology to Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) autocratic governments.

Latest Updates

NSO Group human rights
Surveillance
Surveillance

Spyware on trial: Justice for Saudi Activist Loujain AlHathloul

28 Sep 2023

Access Now and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights have filed an amicus brief urging the Oregon U.S. District Court to hold DarkMatter, an Emirati spyware firm, accountable for illegaly hacking Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain AlHathloul.

Press Release
Spyware on trial: Justice for Saudi Activist Loujain AlHathloul
28 Sep 2023
Spyware on trial: Justice for Saudi Activist Loujain AlHathloul
Joint Appeal COP28
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity

Spyware in Europe: EU urged to protect journalists from intrusive surveillance

28 Sep 2023
News
Spyware in Europe: EU urged to protect journalists from intrusive surveillance
The Brussels Times ↗
28 Sep 2023
Spyware in Europe: EU urged to protect journalists from intrusive surveillance
European Media Freedom Act
Surveillance
Surveillance

Meta’s decision on Hun Sen skewered as ‘failure’ to deter violence

26 Sep 2023
News
Meta’s decision on Hun Sen skewered as ‘failure’ to deter violence
Voice of America ↗
26 Sep 2023
Meta’s decision on Hun Sen skewered as ‘failure’ to deter violence
Spyware: a threat to human rights and democracy
Surveillance
Surveillance

Russian news outlet in Latvia believes European state behind phone hack

25 Sep 2023
News
Russian news outlet in Latvia believes European state behind phone hack
The Guardian ↗
25 Sep 2023
Russian news outlet in Latvia believes European state behind phone hack
Press under Attack – Digital Strategies to Intimidate Journalists in Latin America
Surveillance
Surveillance

Meta releases second human rights report, activists say no concrete plan to tackle issues in India

20 Sep 2023
News
Meta releases second human rights report, activists say no concrete plan to tackle issues in India
The Wire ↗
20 Sep 2023
Meta releases second human rights report, activists say no concrete plan to tackle issues in India
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
Surveillance
Surveillance

The ramifications of spyware targeting a Russian journalist

19 Sep 2023
News
The ramifications of spyware targeting a Russian journalist
Washington Post ↗
19 Sep 2023
The ramifications of spyware targeting a Russian journalist
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance
Surveillance

More Russian journalists investigating possible spyware infections

15 Sep 2023
News
More Russian journalists investigating possible spyware infections
The Record ↗
15 Sep 2023
More Russian journalists investigating possible spyware infections
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance
Surveillance

Exiled Russian media co-founder targeted by Pegasus spyware

14 Sep 2023
News
Exiled Russian media co-founder targeted by Pegasus spyware
OCCRP ↗
14 Sep 2023
Exiled Russian media co-founder targeted by Pegasus spyware
Armenia spyware victims: Pegasus hacking in war
Surveillance
Surveillance

Census or spy op? Upcoming population count raises alarm

14 Sep 2023
News
Census or spy op? Upcoming population count raises alarm
Frontier ↗
14 Sep 2023
Census or spy op? Upcoming population count raises alarm
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
Spyware: a threat to human rights and democracy
Surveillance
Surveillance

Spyware critics sound off in wake of hack of Russian journalist

14 Sep 2023
News
Spyware critics sound off in wake of hack of Russian journalist
The Washington Post ↗
14 Sep 2023
Spyware critics sound off in wake of hack of Russian journalist
NSO Group
Surveillance
Surveillance

The million-dollar reporter

13 Sep 2023
News
The million-dollar reporter
Meduza ↗
13 Sep 2023
The million-dollar reporter
مؤتمر المناخ كوب 28
Surveillance
Surveillance

In first, Russian journalist hacked with Pegasus

13 Sep 2023
News
In first, Russian journalist hacked with Pegasus
Washington Post ↗
13 Sep 2023
In first, Russian journalist hacked with Pegasus
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
Surveillance
Surveillance

Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic

13 Sep 2023

The publisher of Russian independent media org Meduza was hacked with NSO’s Pegasus spyware. As both Russia and Latvia are potential culprits, Access Now demands accountability and sanctions.

Publication
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic
13 Sep 2023
Hacking Meduza: Pegasus spyware used to target Putin’s critic