Resources
News, research, and campaigns
The latest updates on digital rights from West Asia and North Africa
Categories
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…
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…
Telecommunications in South Lebanon: Has the Network Recovered After the Ceasefire?
Six months after a fragile ceasefire ended Israel’s full-blown war on Lebanon, many villages in South Lebanon remain without reliable…
AI Investments in the Gulf: Opportunities and Surveillance Risks
Methodology All findings and analyses were developed through the review of publicly available information, including online articles, research papers, investment…
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…
Research Report: Confronting Structural Silencing: Challenges and Resistance Among Digital Feminist Activists in Lebanon
We’re sharing a new, in-depth study conducted by SMEX exploring the evolving landscape of feminist digital activism in Lebanon—specifically the…
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…