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 WANA 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

We advance digital rights in the West Asia and North Africa region through research, campaigns, and advocacy. We encourage users to engage with digital technology, media, and social networks responsibly and critically.

What we do

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

1330

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.

Tell social media companies: improve your content moderation practices for...

Acknowledging the importance of protecting sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) both offline and online in the West Asia and…

A New Golden Age of Digital Piracy? [Opinion] 

The bootleg DVD store and delivery service known as Nabilnet, a once iconic establishment and household name in Beirut, shut…

Escalating crackdown on free speech in the Gulf 

Escalating crackdown on free speech in the Gulf On May 29, Saudi Arabia’s Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) sentenced Professor Asaad Al-Ghamdi…

Why did Türkiye ban Instagram for nine days?

In early August 2024, Turkey made headlines by imposing a sudden and controversial ban on Instagram, one of the country’s…

Bribery, bureaucracy, and e-signatures: Lebanon jolts toward digital transformation  

On February 10, 2024, the Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the Decree on Electronic Official Documents and Electronic Signatures, a…

Tech at the Service of Occupation

A recent investigation by Israeli media confirmed that the occupation has been relying on tech giants’ cloud services to store…

Digital Safety Helpdesk: Meta Suspends More Lebanese WhatsApp Accounts

Last June, the Digital Safety Helpdesk at SMEX handled a surge in account suspensions and activity restrictions, which comprised 38%…

South Lebanon: “We are at risk of being disconnected from...

Last March, Ali Farhat’s landline was disconnected after an Israeli strike hit his neighborhood in the town of Bar’ashit, South…

Upcoming Events

Tell social media companies: improve your content moderation practices for SRHR content [Petition]

Acknowledging the importance of protecting sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) both offline and online in the West Asia and…

More Events

Contact Us

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