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
3381
Tickets received
1289
Tickets escalated
729
Journalists assisted
900
Activists assisted
News
Latest Articles
Latest news at the intersection of technology and human rights in WANA.
SMEX relaunches its Digital Rights Fund (DRF) for 2026!
Are you a tech geek, grassroots initiative, student, independent researcher, or civil society organization looking to fund your digital rights…
New Study: Women as Political Actors in Lebanon’s October War
Israel’s war on Lebanon was not merely a military confrontation broadcast on screens. At its core, it was a war…
Oracle in Lebanon could threaten digital sovereignty
The American company Oracle and Lebanon’s Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Kamal Shehadeh, recently signed an undisclosed…
How much longer can Syrians afford the internet?
Telecommunication prices in Syria have increased nearly a thousandfold, drawing public attention and concern. However, the Syrian Ministry of Telecommunications…
Bread&Net 2025: Building a collective movement for digital rights in...
Bread&Net took place in Beirut in October 2025, bringing together more than 550 participants from across the West Asia and…
Meta’s 2024 Human Rights Report: too little, too late
In a long-overdue move, Meta finally published its 2024 annual human rights report in December 2025, strategically releasing it just…
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Upcoming Events
SMEX relaunches its Digital Rights Fund (DRF) for 2026!
Are you a tech geek, grassroots initiative, student, independent researcher, or civil society organization looking to fund your digital rights…
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