We need responsible, multi-perspective news now more than ever. @GlobalVoices.org has just announced 'Spotlight', a new monthly series exploring critical global themes. Their first issue tackles AI, while next month will focus on climate solutions. Support their vital work!

From stories of resistance in Afghanistan to cultural battles in Russia, and from farmers in Cameroon to activists in Vietnam, this month GV brought together voices navigating crisis, resilience, and change. These are not distant headlines: they are lived realities, told by those closest to them.

Can Lebanon survive the digital war? A crucial op-ed on why acknowledging this digital frontline is the first step towards building genuine resilience

Thanks @globalvoices.org in #Arabic (@ircpresident.bsky.social and his team!) for translating my story about the #US #China tech war! 👇 ar.globalvoices.org/2026/03/17/9...

NEW: The Trump administration is seeking to oust the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, in its talks with Cuban political leaders. It plans to allow the Castro family to keep power if they agree to economic changes, creating a client state for the US. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/16/w...

Stop chasing every fire. If you are the only one holding everything together, your leadership style might be a liability. Read this excellent breakdown on how to step back, build a resilient team, and redefine what it means to be a reliable leader bit.ly/4bHqJfQ

As authorities in Iran plunge the country into a near-total comms blackout, the need for resilient, censorship-resistant technology has never been greater. @AccessNow is urging the prioritisation of Direct-to-Cell satellite tech to #KeepItOn during crises.

New findings confirm that the phones of an Italian journalist and two immigration activists were simultaneously infected with commercial spyware. We need urgent, binding regulations to stop governments from weaponising these tools against dissent.

Unregulated commercial surveillance is a direct threat to human rights globally. Discover the chilling new findings on how governments in Angola and Kenya are using sophisticated spyware to compromise the safety of prominent critics and journalists

A new piece by Nikolaj Nielsen details how the EU is moving to allow the imprisonment of migrant families & minors for up to 2 years under a harsh new deportation bill. Read the breakdown of what this means for refugees & migrants

Scanning propaganda QR codes poses a severe threat to your digital and physical security. SMEX has issued a vital guide on how to clear your device of potential trackers if you have interacted with these links. Contact their Digital Safety Helpdesk if you need immediate support buff.ly/uQoWIAS

The mercenary spyware industry is deploying vast resources to influence democratic decision-making. Read this comprehensive breakdown of NSO Group’s multi-million dollar lobbying campaign to re-enter the US market and avoid accountability bit.ly/416mF2w

The Coalition for Independent Technology Research has filed a lawsuit with the @knightcolumbia.org and @protectdemocracy.org challenging a US State Department policy to revoke or deny visas of non-citizen researchers because of their work studying the societal impacts of technology. (1/4)

Please share!

sending out copies of COUNTERREVOLUTION IN EGYPT: Sisi’s New Republic by Hossam el-Hamalawy (out May 5th, from @versobooks.bsky.social) this week! let me know if you’d like a review copy

Weaponised communications are being used to spread panic in Lebanon. From drone signal interception to caller ID spoofing, read this breakdown of how these threatening messages operate & the steps you must take to protect your safety

Billed as a public utility, weaponised as a state mouthpiece. Meduza’s latest feature exposes the reality behind Russia’s national messenger app and the broader push for domestic digital surveillance

We cannot let the EU codify the criminalisation of undocumented people. Read this alarming breakdown of how new policies are building a surveillance-driven deportation machine that threatens fundamental rights for all.

When the internet is shut down, democracy is left in the dark. Read the latest findings on the devastating reality of election-period internet blackouts in Uganda, and why we must fight to protect digital rights.

The internet blackout in Iran is a profound human rights crisis. Discover the devastating reality of this "complete silence" and the urgent need to defend digital rights

The fight against authoritarian censorship is a daily battle. Read how brave reporters are defying unprecedented internet blackouts in Iran to ensure their stories are heard and human rights abuses are documented.

Uncovering the digital crackdown. A powerful new report exposes how the Iranian government is spying on citizens to crush dissent. We must hold both the regime and the enablers of this surveillance to account.

A new funding opportunity for digital defenders. The Common Good Cyber Fund is offering global grants to support the essential work of cybersecurity non-profits. Learn more about the programme and the push to resource our digital infrastructure.

"Iranians are resilient; they always find ways to speak, even in the dark." As state censors push for permanent digital blackouts, a new piece explores how citizens are turning to sophisticated tools like Tor and Lantern to bypass unprecedented internet censorship.

Internet shutdowns are a weapon of authoritarian control, but civil society is refusing to be silenced. Read Ryan Lenora Brown’s latest on the global battle against digital censorship and the tools keeping dissent alive.

A landmark ruling in Greece: Intellexa has been sentenced to prison for targeting politicians and journalists. It is a long-awaited step towards justice in the ongoing fight against unregulated commercial surveillance and digital rights abuses.

Mercenary spyware is fuelling authoritarianism. Amnesty International has documented the hacking of a prominent Angolan journalist using Predator spyware, proving these dangerous tools are still actively targeting civil society. Time for robust accountability!

We cannot allow the EU to normalise racial profiling and the policing of public services. Proud to stand with @picumofficial.bsky.social 100+ organisations demanding European policymakers reject the harmful Deportation Regulation. Read the full call to action:

150+ countries, 550+ sessions, one global community. The RightsCon 2026 programme is packed with vital discussions on the future of our digital rights. Register now and join the conversation in Zambia or worldwide bit.ly/4aGRMrb via @accessnow.org

A camera on every face, linked to a database of billions. Meta's push to add 'Name Tag' facial recognition to its smart glasses is a direct threat to our civil liberties and right to privacy. Read the alarming details via @theverge.com

ALPRs, facial recognition, and bulk location data: the surveillance infrastructure being used to target immigration activists is alarming. Read this comprehensive breakdown by Jake Laperruque on the tech involved and the privacy safeguards we urgently need.

Should we wait for an AI Chernobyl to start taking security seriously? A brilliant conversation on why moving deliberately & securing Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability is far more important than unchecked acceleration, via @alexmayoralb.bsky.social

When an AI chatbot arbitrarily refuses to answer a prompt, is it a safety feature or outright censorship? The latest from @accessnow.org explores the hidden dangers of LLM refusal mechanisms and how "alignment" often lacks a human rights lens

When HRDs, journalists, and everyday citizens are under threat, privacy-preserving tech is our first line of defence. It is inspiring to see civil society unite behind the KISS campaign to protect encryption and ban spyware across Europe

"Convenience must exist alongside privacy, not instead of it." Why @EFF.org is targeting major platforms to stop stalling and implement end-to-end encryption by default

India is expanding its Aadhaar digital ID into mobile wallets and offline verification apps. However, without a fully established data protection board, critics warn this ubiquity could fuel unauthorised private-sector use and privacy risks

As Southeast Asia prepares for the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030, a new briefing paper reveals a critical gap between ambition and human rights. Read the full report here:

Between 2016 and today, there have been over 190 documented internet shutdowns across Africa. In this interview from #FIFAfrica25, Felicia Anthonio and Edetaen Ojo break down the severe impact of these blackouts on human rights and livelihoods

A vital opportunity for technologists: The Mozilla Foundation's Democracy x AI Cohort is investing in projects that use AI to expand civic participation and build a shared reality. Funding and mentorship available, via @mozilla.org

Automated License Plate Readers are dragnet surveillance tools used by local police, CBP, and ICE. Check out the "Flock Out" campaign and learn how communities are successfully banning Flock Safety cameras via @fightforthefuture.org

This week in #FreeExpression updates: 🔹 #Cambodia: journalist Hem Vanna detained after reporting 🔹 #Egypt: summonses and excessive bail used to intimidate dissent 🔹 #BurkinaFaso: artist detained without explanation 📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/dGjCfkR

Regulate, Relate, Reason. A practical "3R" framework for managing insecure leaders and protecting your own well-being. bit.ly/4rNTA7l

"To ban or not to ban?" CRIN takes a critical look at the rush to block children from social media, arguing that exclusion isn't the same as protection

From surveillance cameras to the 'Great Firewall' model, a new report by @article19org exposes how Chinese tech is fueling digital oppression in Iran.

Digital sovereignty rhetoric is often just a cover for state control. @wayan_vota argues that building national firewalls doesn't protect citizens—it just makes it easier for regimes to shut down the internet

Russia is cracking down on WhatsApp and Telegram, reportedly to push users toward "Max"—a state-backed app that critics warn is built for surveillance. via @en.france24.com on BlueSky

Today, on 14 February, we mark the 15th anniversary of #Bahrain's popular movement. Most leading human rights defenders remain in prison or exile. We call on the government to release Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace & all activists #FreeAlKhawaja #FreeAlSingace

Airbnb’s 2026 update is a biometric trap. From tracking your GPS while the app is closed to training AI on your private home photos and "clawing back" your earnings via forced arbitration

"لم نُهزم بعد". في ظل التحديات الجيوسياسية، أعضاء تحالف "الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا للحقوق الرقمية" يستعرضون عام من الدفاع عن الحقوق الرقمية وبناء مساحات للتضامن. via @madr.network

"We have not yet been defeated." A powerful reflection from @MADRNetwork members on a challenging year for digital rights in the MENA region. via @madr.network on BlueSky