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Jordan: When is it illegal for authorities to check your phone?
Arrests of pro-Palestine activists in Jordan have increased amid the escalation of the Israeli war on Gaza. During the detention…
Lebanese authorities punish and humiliate Google reviewers
To document his bad experience at a dental clinic, Adel (a pseudonym) posted a review on Google. Despite adhering to…
Beyond numbers: What does the “World Press Freedom Index” really indicate?
The 2024 “World Press Freedom Index” (WPF Index), issued by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on World Press Freedom Day on…
How journalists can protect their privacy: legal and technical recommendations
A journalist in Lebanon was recently forced to hand her phone, password, messaging content, and information sources to the Information…
Exam shutdowns in Syria: financial and human losses
Despite a global trend towards improving the speed, quality, and availability of internet services, Syria still disrupts access to the…
Lebanon’s telecom ministry to suspend mobile SIMs for “illegal” Syrian refugees
The government-led campaign to deport Syrian refugees in Lebanon has been marked by escalating hate speech, raids, arrests, and further…
Digital Safety Helpdesk Statistics: Rising Electronic Repression in the Region
In May, SMEX’s Digital Safety Helpdesk addressed 133 digital threats spanning account suspensions, cyber violence, sexual blackmail, content moderation, and…