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The latest updates on digital rights from West Asia and North Africa
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Starlink in Lebanon: Who Does it Really Serve?
Hooking Lebanon onto Starlink has been a key initiative of Telecommunications Minister Charles Hajj during his current term—one marked by…
Syria Bans Online Surveys Amid Fragile Digital Infrastructure
Syria’s new government has banned all online and digital surveys without prior official approval, according to a decision issued by…
Syria: Digital Safety Tips from SMEX’s Helpdesk
The recent circulation of an audio recording, allegedly from a Druze religious leader in Syria insulting Prophet Muhammad, is being…
Open Letter to Samsung: End Forced Israeli-Founded Bloatware Installations in the WANA Region
In recent months, we have received numerous reports from users across West Asia and North Africa (WANA) expressing alarm over…
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 Risky E-Wallet
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 E-Wallet
When thousands of public sector workers in Syria tried to collect their salaries during Eid El-Fitr this April, many found…