Tackling the “black snakes” undermining digital rights worldwide

North American Indigenous prophecies warn of a “black snake” that will slither across the land, destroying every community, ecosystem, and livelihood in its path. It’s an apt metaphor for the threats the digital rights community faces: from exploitative data colonialism and digitally driven atrocities to technology’s undeniable role in the climate crisis. As these challenges multiply and intertwine, Access Now’s new executive director, Alejandro Mayoral Baños, urges our community to come together to fend off these snakes, to move forward — not backward— on digital rights in 2025. Read more via Access Now

We missed you

Welcome back and happy 2025!

In this first issue of the year, you can hear from our new executive director on the challenges ahead, celebrate major victories in tackling the spyware scourge, and read our rule-of-law checklist intended to help regulators safeguard human rights and hold Big Tech platforms accountable for how they moderate content. If you’re enjoying the Access Now Express newsletter, why not forward it to a friend, or learn more about how to support our work?

Checking in on content governance

Platform accountability and human rights: a rule-of-law checklist

Meta’s decision to change its content moderation policies, including ending its partnership with third-party fact-checkers, is a painful reminder of how Big Tech power asymmetries can jeopardize people’s rights and safety. Our newly published rule-of-law checklist for policymakers is aimed at ensuring that platform accountability regulations are grounded in human rights and the rule of law — a tool to resist democratic backsliding and rising authoritarianism. Read our key recommendations. Read more via Access Now

Global fact-checkers were disappointed, not surprised, Meta ended its program

Meta’s news came as no surprise to many of us in the digital rights community. Rest of World spoke to Access Now’s Eliška Pírková, Namrata Maheshwari, and Marwa Fatafta about the impact on people around the world. According to Pírková, Meta has been “gradually lowering its investment in fact-checking for years.” The decision to rely solely on community notes is “completely divorced from the needs and realities of South Asia,” Maheshwari points out. And Fatafta says that instead of increasing freedom of expression or reducing censorship in the Middle East and North Africa, the changes will “wreak more havoc on online civic spaces," where “state-sponsored disinformation, hate speech, and genocidal rhetoric” are already putting lives in danger. Read more via Rest of World

AI, what’s new with EU?

Put human rights at the heart of the EU’s AI Act implementation guidelines

The EU's AI Act has gaping loopholes and exemptions for law enforcement and migration purposes that put human rights at risk. Last year, the European Commission opened a public consultation on guidelines for using AI systems in line with the AI Act – a process that Access Now fed into. Now, we and our partners in the AI Act civil society and #ProtectNotSurveil coalitions are urging the AI Office to ensure implementation of the regulations centers human rights. Read more via Access Now

Spyware victims, rejoice

Statement on the historic decision in the WhatsApp v NSO case

The end of 2024 gave us a major digital rights victory: in December, a U.S. court ruled that Israel surveillance firm NSO Group, maker of Pegasus spyware, is liable for enabling clients to hack the devices of 1,400 WhatsApp users. This is a “major win for WhatsApp, civil society, and Pegasus victims around the world,” says Access Now’s Natalia Krapiva. Read our joint amicus brief in the case, which documented the stories of Pegasus victims, and our new statement on what this crucial victory means for human rights. Read more via Access Now

UN Security Council members meet on spyware for first time

In another important win, earlier this week the UN Security Council met to discuss the threats posed by spyware, a first for this body. Testifying at the meeting, security researcher John Scott-Railton from the Citizen Lab underscored that EU countries need to do more to rein in spyware, warning that the continent has become the “epicenter of spyware abuses.” The U.S., UK, France, and South Korea agreed on the need for greater action. Read more via The Record

Serbia: Authorities using spyware to hack journalists and activists

Despite these victories, spyware abuse continues to threaten environmental activists, journalists, and others who expose or criticize governments. Read the new Amnesty International report on the use of spyware and mobile forensics tools to surveil, censor, and suppress people in Serbia, some of whom say being targeted feels like they are in a “digital prison.” Read more via Amnesty International

Keep talking about Palestine

The Palestinian Authority must end its attacks on press freedom

As we write this newsletter, after more than 15 months of unimaginable horror in Gaza, a ceasefire hangs in the balance. As the world waits for the guns to fall silent, there are reports on escalating violence in the West Bank. But the Palestinian Authority (PA) has followed Israel’s lead and suspended Al Jazeera’s operations in the West Bank, blocking access to Al Jazeera news sites. This “strikes a blow against accountability and truth,” says Access Now’s Kassem Mnejja. We urge the PA to reverse the decision immediately. Read more via Access Now

Opportunities and other highlights

WE’RE HIRING: Senior Financial Analyst/Assistant Controller

Are you a financial professional seeking meaningful work? We’re looking for a new Senior Financial Analyst/Assistant Controller to drive and support activities that span our global finance functions, with varying duties specific to the financial operations of our Costa Rica, Europe, Tunisia, and/or U.S. finance centers. If you have strong skills and experience in financial planning, analysis, modeling, and reporting, learn more about the role and apply. Read more via Access Now

Join the Young Leaders Summit at RightsCon 2025

Young leaders are vital for the future of human rights. In just over five weeks, RightsCon 2025 kicks off, and we’re inviting leaders aged 18-30 to apply for our fifth Young Leaders Summit, taking place in parallel on February 24. Organized in partnership with Better Together Taiwan, the summit will bring together up to 100 participants to focus on youth-driven change. Please note that while participants receive complimentary registration to RightsCon and food and beverages, RightsCon is not able to cover travel and accommodation costs. Check out the eligibility criteria and apply before January 22. Read more via Access Now

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