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

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Tickets received

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Tickets escalated

91

Journalists assisted

118

Activists assisted

News

Latest Articles

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

COP28 in Dubai: Participants’ Safety in Jeopardy Given Country’s Record

Last June, it was reported that the UAE’s national oil company read emails to and from the COP28 climate summit…

eSIMs in Gaza: An Imperfect and Potentially Dangerous Alternative

Gaza has been through at least four near-total communication blackouts since October 7. The latest internet blackout, on November 16,…

Social Media Censorship Threatens Journalists and Bloggers in Yemen

On July 8, the military police in Marib province, which is under the control of the internationally recognized and Gulf-backed…

Towards the monetization of human rights: Meta’s paid version raises...

In the past weeks, Meta and X set forth their intention to make their platforms ad-free in exchange for a…

Beware of Phishing Scams Targeting Page Admins!

With the ongoing war on Gaza since October 7, censorship, shadowbanning, and other new measures applied by tech companies, we…

Telecommunications Sector Emergency Plan in Lebanon: Satellite Solutions over Realistic...

Lebanese Minister of Communications, Johnny Corm, and subsequently by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, expressed their eagerness about finalizing a deal…

Palestine unplugged: how Israel disrupts Gaza’s internet

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Content note: The following post contains references to violence and war. Since October 9, the 2.3 million…

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