Julia Bacardit Cruells • 15 Oct 2021

The Digital Safety Helpdesk at SMEX

In April 2020, SMEX launched the Digital Safety Helpdesk to support internet users, activists, journalists, bloggers, and human rights organizations…

SMEX • 05 May 2021

Covid-19 and Social Control in Lebanon [Report]

The Lebanese government’s response to Covid-19 was deeply affected by the failing economy and political unrest, both of which the…

SMEX • 15 Feb 2021

Data Protection and Privacy Laws In MENA: A Case Study Of Covid-19 Contact Tracing Apps [Report]

This report analyzes data protection and privacy laws in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Joey Shea, a…

SMEX • 01 Feb 2021

Device Seizures in Lebanon: Assessing the Legal Framework concerning device seizures [Report]

We have witnessed in the last couple of years a striking increase in the number of devices seized by security…

SMEX • 27 Jan 2021

The Future of Biometrics and Digital ID in Lebanon: Assessing Proposed Systems for Elections and Social Assistance [Report]

In Lebanon, passports, drivers’ licenses, work permits, residency permits, and humanitarian aid all use systems that require biometric data, such…

Ali Sibai • 20 Jan 2021

Why Is Your WhatsApp Account Being Banned?

The last weeks have witnessed an increase in reported cases of people losing access to their WhatsApp accounts. At first…

Abed Kataya • 11 Jan 2021

A New (Non-)Privacy Policy from WhatsApp? [A comparison between messaging applications]

Tech and media companies are exploiting free, popular apps to increase their access to  personal data; and WhatsApp has just…