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…
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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…
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you.
