It might be tempting to try the new social media trend where you ask AI to generate what you think your life looks like. But that harmless-seeming trend could put your information at risk, including your face. Read more on why we suggest you don't: smex.org/should-you-u...

Should you upload a photo of yourself on an AI platform? The short answer is no, and here’s why - SMEX

Every few months, a new AI image trend takes over social media. In early 2025, millions uploaded their photos to AI chatbots to get a Studio Ghibli-style portrait. By Ramadan 2026, the trend turned de...

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New research! With the help of @privacyinternational.org, we’ve published a groundbreaking research paper on how the SWANA region functions as a site of production, a consumption market, and a live testing ground of militarized tech. Read more: smex.org/new-report-o...

New report on the militarization of tech in the SWANA: Produced, tested, deployed - SMEX

Human testing. Those two words evoke mental images of inhumane experiments and feelings of disquiet, as they should. Yet human testing of militarized technology is happening in the Southwest Asia/Nort...

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What does staying connected mean during displacement? Why are Instagram DMs no longer private? And what questions are shaping Bread&Net 2026? Our latest newsletter gathers stories, digital rights updates, opportunities, and reflections from across West Asia and North Africa.

Be part of Bread&Net 2026

Bread&Net 2025 functioned not only as a space to share knowledge, but as a connective infrastructure for the region's digital rights ecosystem, and we couldn't be prouder of what this community built…

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Authorities have issued sweeping bans on filming, sharing, or commenting on footage related to Iranian attacks on GCC territory. We, alongside 28 organizations, are calling on Gulf governments to immediately take measures to uphold freedom of expression and human rights. smex.org/criminalizin...

Criminalizing Truth: Gulf Governments Must End the Crackdown on Information - SMEX

Since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, triggering a wave of Iranian missile...

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From payment processing to online hospital records, every day lives in the WANA are getting more digitized, and it all relies on data centers. What happens when they become targets? Read our analysis here: smex.org/dual-use-and...

Dual-use and dual damage: what the targeting of data centers means for civilians - SMEX

For the first time in military history, private-sector commercial data centers have been deliberately targeted and damaged in an active...

smex.org

RightsCon2026 was de facto canceled after China pressured Zambia to exclude Taiwanese participants. Access Now took a principled decision and refused to hold a conference on those terms. The cost of the cancellation was both financial and human. Read the full piece: smex.org/solidarity-i...

Google hasn't responded to our letter from Feb. 18 about state-sponsored disinformation running through their ads. So we're publishing it. Google must apply its ad policies to all parties equally without any exceptions. Read the full letter: madr.network/madr-to-goog...

On March 13, thousands of leaflets dropped over Beirut. At the bottom sat QR codes. But why would a military drop QR codes for people to scan? Were they malicious? And what were they actually trying to collect? Read this piece by our Senior Cybersecurity Analyst: smex.org/opinion-isra...

[Opinion] Israeli leaflets with QR codes could be after Lebanese metadata - SMEX

On March 13, thousands of leaflets dropped over Beirut. At the bottom sat QR codes A month later, the question...

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Stories like this show us that tools built for military surveillance do not stay in the military. They are being repurposed into corporations, governments, and now, into universities. This a worrying sign of how the militarization of tech is quietly reshaping civilian spaces.

Stephanie Migot (MsMigot) @msmigot.bsky.social · 4mo ago

British universities paid security firm to ‘spy’ on pro-Palestine students https://is.gd/ozKNtO [AlJazeera] Oh, that's not concerning at all... which is why I have now got an eye twitch

🚨 @smex.org is running a campaign to help ensure that: 📱 Displaced people in Lebanon have Internet access so that they can stay connected to aid agencies and receive the information and news they need to keep them safe. 📱 Displaced children have access to remote learning.

Espionage enables repression! In collaboration with Lookout + @smex.org, our Digital Security Helpline exposes a hack-for-hire phishing campaign targeting journalists and dissidents in the MENA region. Here’s what we found, and what it means for civil society 🧵

On April 16, U.S. president Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. The Lebanese army reported violation within hours of it taking effect. The digital front has no pause. Here is what we followed this week. smex.org/digital-righ...

Digital Rights Amid a Regional War: April 17, 2026 - SMEX

Beirut, April 15, 2026 — On April 8, Israel launched its heaviest bombardment on Lebanon since the start of the...

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A high-profile Lebanese journalist was targeted with advanced phone hacking in May 2025. The investigation identifies the involvement of BITTER, a known threat actor prominent in South Asia whose operations may now extend into West Asia and North Africa. Full findings: smex.org/smex-may2025/

Rotten Apple: An Invasive Threat Actor Targeting Civil Society in Lebanon - SMEX

Executive Summary  The SMEX Digital Forensic Lab presents a report on a spear-phishing campaign that targeted a high profile Lebanese...

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In Lebanon, 1 in 5 people have been displaced. In shelters, many must pay high costs for internet and communication with little official support, cutting them off from learning, connection, and loved ones. Help support access during this crisis. Donate to SMEX:

Keep Communities in Lebanon Safe, Informed, and Connected. Donate now.

<p>SMEX is working to bridge the connectivity gap for our communities in Lebanon, ensuring they can have access to essential…</p>

smex.org

In response to the ongoing challenges shaping the state of digital rights in the West Asia and North Africa region, and in light of the continuing Israeli war on our region, we invite you to write with us and cover topics related to digital rights.

Last week, a US jury found that Meta and YouTube are liable for damages in a lawsuit claiming it deliberately designed its products to be addictive. This is a novel legal theory, and SMEX will be monitoring how it develops, and how its impact could spread beyond the USA.

The Associated Press@apnews.com · 4mo ago

BREAKING: A jury in Los Angeles finds Instagram and YouTube liable in a landmark social media addiction trial.

Israeli occupation forces dropped leaflets over Beirut, asking residents to disarm Hezbollah & scan QR codes. SMEX (@smex.org) & the Lebanese army warned against scanning them. Christina Cavalcanti & Basyma Saad (@basyma.bsky.social) report: thepublicsource.org/blog/lebanon...

What are the latest developments in digital rights amid the ongoing regional war? Explore five of the most important recent stories in our weekly digest available through the link below: smex.org/digital-righ...

Digital Rights Amid a Regional War: March 24, 2026

<p>Beirut, March 24, 2026 — Israel’s war on Lebanon continues to escalate, intensifying its targets on critical infrastructure like connecting…</p>

smex.org

An important read from our member @smex.org in Lebanon compiles information on how the war has unfolded on the digital front during the first week of the regional crisis. smex.org/digital-righ...

Digital Rights Amid a Regional War: Threats and Responses

<p>Beirut, March 9, 2026 — Israel has displaced more than half a million Lebanese residents from South Lebanon, Beirut, and…</p>

smex.org

Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating! As with many major holidays, we observe a rise in phishing campaigns that exploit increased online activity and community messaging. For practical guidance on identifying and mitigating phishing risks, read SMEX’s guide: smex.org/a-few-tips-t...

A Few Tips to Detect Phishing Links

<p>Over the past year, we have witnessed an increase in the number of phishing campaigns in Lebanon and amongst the…</p>

smex.org

What did the first week of the regional war in Lebanon, the Gulf, and Iran look like on the digital front? SMEX breaks down the key developments and what they mean for rights online. Read more: smex.org/digital-righ...

Digital Rights Amid a Regional War: Threats and Responses - SMEX

Beirut, March 9, 2026 — Israel has displaced more than half a million Lebanese residents from South Lebanon, Beirut, and...

smex.org

Signal's President warns AI agents are undermining encryption in real-world use. This echoes our concern: while WhatsApp uses Signal’s E2E model, Meta AI integration introduces new privacy threats that encryption alone can’t prevent. Read more @dia.bsky.social: smex.org/whatsapp-get...

WhatsApp gets a little worse with AI

<p>Last week, Meta announced that WhatsApp will now feature targeted ads. As many news articles and comments from civil society…</p>

smex.org

Blackout VPN@blackoutvpn.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Signal Foundation president Meredith Whittaker says AI agents embedded in operating systems are destroying the practical security of end-to-end encryption. blackoutvpn.au/blog/ai-agen... #ai #signal #agents

NEW: guide by @business-humanrights.org, @smex.org & @awo.agency on the severe, under-recognised risks for 📈💰investors in #surveillance technologies – including #spyware, digital forensics tools, cell site simulators & deep packet inspection systems. media.business-humanrights.org/media/docume...

Today, the Digital Services Act (DSA) Human Rights Alliance, a group of digital and human rights advocacy organizations from inside and outside the EU, published a set of principles recommending an inclusive enforcement for the DSA. Read the full principles here @EFF.org www.eff.org/issues/princ...

Principles for a Human-Rights Centred Application of the DSA: A Global Perspective From the DSA Human Rights Alliance

The EU’s pioneering Digital Services Act (DSA) aims to foster a safer digital space by setting out new responsibilities for online platforms, supporting online expression, and giving users more…

eff.org

Reminder: The Digital Rights Fund (DRF) for this cycle is open until January 31! If you have an idea for an innovative project addressing issues within digital rights, now is your time to apply for funding with us. Find out more: smex.org/smex-relaunc...

2024 was the largest election year in history, putting pressure on Meta to address risks from its products and services, including AI. Instead, Meta’s 2024 Human Rights Report largely reads as product promotion, sidestepping the human rights concerns raised by civil society.

Meta’s 2024 Human Rights Report: too little, too late - SMEX

In a long-overdue move, Meta finally published its 2024 annual human rights report in December 2025, strategically releasing it just...

smex.org

Meta’s Annual Human Rights Report for 2024 was finally published in December, nearly three months later than the previous year’s release. Despite this delay, the report was superficial and failed to meaningfully address key human rights concerns. Our policy team’s analysis: smex.org/metas-2024-h...

Meta’s 2024 Human Rights Report: too little, too late - SMEX

In a long-overdue move, Meta finally published its 2024 annual human rights report in December 2025, strategically releasing it just...

smex.org

Have you recently received an unsolicited email from Instagram asking you to reset your password? Chances are you were part of the 17.5 million users whose data has been compromised in a massive data leak. Luckily, we've compiled a few preventative tips to help you stay protected.

What were the major trends in human rights violations we observed in 2025? This past year, our policy team has tirelessly worked to advance our mission and advocate for a safer digital space, free from censorship. Read about our submissions here: smex.org/human-rights...

Human Rights Day: SMEX reflects on a year of advocacy for digital rights  - SMEX

Over the past year, digital rights have faced increasing pressure. As governments and corporations deploy and develop new technologies at...

smex.org

During the holidays, phishing links are more prominent. How can you identify and protect yourself from phishing? smex.org/a-few-tips-t...

A Few Tips to Detect Phishing Links - SMEX

Over the past year, we have witnessed an increase in the number of phishing campaigns in Lebanon and amongst the...

smex.org