SMEX advances digital rights
in West Asia and North Africa.

Who we are

SMEX is a non-profit that advocates for and advances human rights in digital spaces across West Asia and North Africa.

Our Vision

Our vision is for everyone living in West Asia-North Africa and the diaspora to be able to access and engage with the internet, mobile services, and other networked spaces safely and without fear of censorship, surveillance, or repercussion.

Our mission

SMEX advances freedom of expression and the right to privacy in WANA through research and reporting, monitoring state and tech companies’ policies, protecting the safety and security of online users, and collaborating with regional advocates to sustain a safer digital space.

What we do

Our Digital Safety Helpdesk assists internet users facing digital threats in the region

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Tickets received

446

Tickets escalated

91

Journalists assisted

118

Activists assisted

News

Latest Articles

Latest news at the intersection of technology and human rights in WANA.

Syria Brief: Internet Disruptions, Threats to Data Sovereignty, and a...

Recurrent internet disruptions in Syria continue to interfere with residents’ education, work, communication, and even access to their salaries. In…

Sham Cash Under Scrutiny: A Forensic Analysis of Syria’s New...

When thousands of public sector workers in Syria tried to collect their salaries during Eid El-Fitr this April, many found…

Civil Society’s Data in North and East Syria is Not...

As cyber threats escalate globally, Syrian civil society organizations (CSOs) face increasing risks due to financial constraints, technical challenges, and…

Internet and Telecom Disruptions Continue in Syria

Most civil society organizations in Syria are yet to implement robust cybersecurity plans, including basic security measures, risking data integrity…

Why Did Lebanon’s Telecom Ministry Block Mobile Operators’ E-Wallets?

Since 2019, Lebanon’s Central Bank (Banque du Liban) has granted licenses to 19 financial companies to launch e-wallets. However, contrary…

Syria: Authorities Threaten Social Media Users and Confiscate Starlink Devices

Since the fall of the regime in Syria last December, the new government has issued statements about mechanisms to “develop”…

Syria’s Telecom Sector: Between Neglect and Reconstruction

Residents in Syria are still awaiting the transitional government to take tangible steps towards remedying and reconstructing a devastated telecommunications…

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