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.

Why has Israel’s NSO changed its WhatsApp spyware attack strategy?

Earlier this month, Meta announced that it had detected a new spear-phishing attempt linked to the Israeli surveillance group NSO,…

Should you upload a photo of yourself on an AI...

Every few months, a new AI image trend takes over social media. In early 2025, millions uploaded their photos to…

Be part of Bread&Net 2026!

Be part of Bread&Net 2026! ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌  …

Ceasefire extended: Digital rights don’t pause sent

Ceasefire extended: Digital rights don’t pause ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌…

Bread&Net 2025: Explore the Outcomes Reports

A year has passed since Bread&Net 2025. The questions raised in those sessions: who controls digital infrastructure, who bears the…

Criminalizing Truth: Gulf Governments Must End the Crackdown on Information

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

Everyone else owns subsea cables. Why doesn’t Lebanon?

Subsea cables are the hidden infrastructure of the internet. They are fiber-optic systems laid across seabeds, carrying around 98 percent…

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