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.
Exiled, then spied on: Civil society in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland targeted with Pegasus spyware
All governments must establish an immediate moratorium on the export, sale, transfer, servicing, and use of targeted digital surveillance technologies until rigorous human rights safeguards are put in place to stop human rights abuses.
Resources
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.
Digital Identity Systems
Surveilling Europe’s edges: when digitalisation means dehumanisation
In the first of a three-part blog series, Caterina Rodelli explains how digital surveillance is dehumanising people at Europe’s borders.
Data Protection
Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx
El Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx es una guía para ayudarte a navegar el sistema judicial en caso de sufrir una detención errónea por sistemas biométricos.
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.
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.
Surveillance
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
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
Fourth year under Myanmar military’s digital iron curtain
Why the new Europol regulation is a Trojan Horse for surveillance
How a new Europol reform threatens digital war on migrants
The #ProtectNotSurveil coalition analyses a proposed reform of the Europol agency which will increase unlawful surveillance against migrants.
Manual del Pequeñx Vigiladx: una guía ilustrada para resistir la vigilancia
WhatsApp says a spyware company targeted journalists and civilians
WhatsApp accuses Paragon of targeting about 90 users with spyware
Dozens of WhatsApp users targeted by Israeli spyware company
Meta’s WhatsApp says spyware company Paragon targeted users in two dozen countries
Projekti ‘Smart City’ ngre kambana alarmi për survejim masiv në Shqipëri
Tackling the “black snakes” undermining digital rights worldwide
As 2025 gets underway, Access Now’s new Executive Director, Alejandro Mayoral Baños, PhD, shares his reflections on the “black snakes” threatening the digital rights movement.
How Barcelona became an unlikely hub for spyware startups
Telecom rules and metadata: how much data do telecom companies collect about users based on internet activity?
Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case
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.
NSO ruling is a victory for WhatsApp, but could have a small impact on spyware industry
Judge grants ruling in favor of WhatsApp against spyware firm NSO Group