During this session, Social Media Exchange (SMEX), a Beirut-based organization, will provide an overview of the digital rights landscape in the Arabic-speaking region. Over the last 5 years, we’ve witnessed a dramatic increase in threats to digital rights and freedoms as more legislations sought to shrink the space for free expression online in many repressive countries. At the same time, partnerships between big tech companies and authoritarian regimes, and the latter’s growing investment in new surveillance technology, have rendered the digital sphere dangerous for human rights defenders and civic society at large.

In 45 minutes, we will focus on a primary project in our research department, Cyrilla.org: an open database of digital rights laws from around the world with a focus on the Arab region. We will also introduce the Arab Alliance for Digital Rights that supports people’s efforts to use the internet as a means to organize and self-advocate for their online rights and freedoms. In addition, we will highlight the role of our Digital Security Helpdesk that supports members of civil society in the digital threats they face. By the end of this session, participants will leave with more insights into our advocacy work and how they can contribute.