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
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.
Bread&Net: Save the Date!
For many of us, the internet was never a utopia, but a space of possibility. Building upon decades of collaboration…
Overview of SMEX Panels at RightsCon 2025
From February 24 to 27, SMEX joined digital rights advocates, technologists, policymakers, and activists from around the world at RightsCon…
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…
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Upcoming Events
Bread&Net: Save the Date!
Beirut For many of us, the internet was never a utopia, but a space of possibility. Building upon decades of collaboration…
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