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.
Bread&Net: Save the Date!
For many of us, the internet was never a utopia, but a space of possibility. Building upon decades of collaboration…
Policy Paper: Reforming Governance in Lebanon’s Mobile Telecom Sector
Decades of political interference, mismanagement, and corruption have rendered Lebanon’s telecom sector dysfunctional. These systemic failures left users with weak…
Meet the fellows: Mariam Al-Shafei Fellowship on Technology and Human...
For the year 2024, SMEX welcomed four non-resident fellows for the Mariam Al-Shafei Fellowship on Technology and Human Rights, committed…
SMEX’s Digital Safety Helpdesk Updates: Summer 2025
Women, minorities, and human rights defenders among the most targeted onlineSMEX’s Digital Safety Helpdesk supports activists, journalists, marginalized groups, and…
Women journalists learn to use AI chatbots safely despite security...
This article and the accompanying photographs were produced with the support of UNESCO in Jordan. The views and opinions expressed…
Meta claims hate speech is low, but so is the...
Meta claims that its Community Standards Enforcement Report for the first quarter of 2025 resulted in significant improvement in moderation…
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Upcoming Events
Bread&Net: Save the Date!
Beirut For many of us, the internet was never a utopia, but a space of possibility. Building upon decades of collaboration…
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