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.
Why Did Lebanon’s Telecom Ministry Block Mobile Operators’ E-Wallets?
Since 2019, Lebanon’s Central Bank (Banque du Liban) has granted licenses to 19 financial companies to launch e-wallets. However, contrary…
Syria: Authorities Threaten Social Media Users and Confiscate Starlink Devices
Since the fall of the regime in Syria last December, the new government has issued statements about mechanisms to “develop”…
Lebanon: Unknown sources sending mysterious surveys to people affected by...
During the recent Israeli war on Lebanon, displaced individuals were sent mysterious surveys. Many of these questionnaires had no discernable…
Syria’s Telecom Sector: Between Neglect and Reconstruction
Residents in Syria are still awaiting the transitional government to take tangible steps towards remedying and reconstructing a devastated telecommunications…
Policy Brief: The Human Rights Risks of Big Tech’s Cloud...
This policy brief is based on the 2024 research report “Mapping Tech Companies’ Cloud Expansion in the Gulf and its…
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