#KeepItOn: authorities must restore access in Goma and across the DRC

In recent weeks, ongoing fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has escalated to devastating levels, with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seizing control of the city of Goma in a brutal assault that has killed more than 3,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Now it appears that DRC authorities have cut internet access in and around Goma, and X and Tiktok are also reportedly blocked. This hampers the delivery of humanitarian aid and allows human rights violations to go unreported and undocumented. Join us to demand the DRC and service providers restore access immediately and #KeepItOn. Read our statement in English or French. Read more via Access Now

Looking up when the internet is down

READ: “Holding space for human rights: improving the governance of satellite internet connectivity”

Satellite internet solutions are widely touted as a solution for bridging persistent gaps in internet connectivity worldwide, to close the “digital divides” that disproportionately impact already-marginalized groups. But there is peril as well as promise. How does corporate dominance of this new “space race” impact accessibility for remote and underserved communities? Read our latest report to learn about the challenges and opportunities for building a fair, open, and secure space-based internet for all. Read more via Access Now

No paragon of integrity

WhatsApp accuses Paragon of targeting about 90 users with spyware

Last week, Meta-owned messaging platform WhatApp accused spyware manufacturer Paragon of targeting approximately 90 of its users with invasive surveillance technology. These include at least one journalist and two migrants’ rights activists from Italy, who have been vocal in opposing the current Italian government — which has denied responsibility for the targeting. Nevertheless, Paragon has responded by dropping Italy as a client. Speaking to The Record, Access Now’s Rand Hammoud warns that this latest spyware revelation “should be a glaring red flag to all governments: no contracts, no funding, no legitimization of spyware vendors complicit in repression.” We call on AE Industrial Partners, reportedly Paragon Solutions’ U.S.-based owner, to live up to its commitments under the the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and divest. Read more via The Record

What about U.S.?

The tech arsenal that could power Trump’s immigration crackdown

Since U.S. President Trump returned to the White House less than a month ago, he has issued a flurry of executive orders that undermine everything from privacy and free expression, to transgender and reproductive rights. He has also vowed to conduct the “largest mass deportation operation in history” targeting immigrants, and it turns out he will have help from Big Tech. A New York Times investigation reveals that since 2020, U.S. agencies have paid 260+ tech companies USD $7.8 billion for digital surveillance tools and systems — from real-time location tech, to biometric databases, to technology for breaking into people’s devices — all of which is now at the Trump administration’s disposal. Read more via The New York Times

More than 110 organizations call for investigation into Elon Musk’s lawless government takeover

While President Trump has been busy reversing decades of human rights progress, his unelected right-hand man Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been infiltrating myriad areas of the federal government including the U.S. Treasury, gaining access to people’s most sensitive data in the process. Access Now, along with more than 110 other organizations, has written to the U.S. Congress, demanding an immediate investigation into this lawless takeover, which threatens to harm millions of Americans. In addition, we signed a coalition letter to demand the U.S. attorney for DC respect constitutional rights and refrain from threatening independent reporting on DOGE. Read more via Public Citizen

Don't forget Myanmar

Internet freedom has plummeted under Myanmar’s junta

It’s now been four years since the military junta seized power in Myanmar, and people continue to suffer unprecedented levels of violence, displacement, and repression. The regime uses digital authoritarian tactics to tighten its iron fist, and according to the Myanmar Internet Project, this past year the junta has imposed a record number of internet shutdowns, increased data collection for mass surveillance, and imprisoned almost 400 people for criticizing the regime online. We continue to call on the international community to stand with the people of Myanmar who are courageously fighting to regain control of their country despite this onslaught of attacks on their human rights. Read more via Radio Free Asia

Bullying beyond borders

Ten findings from ten years of data on transnational repression

Transnational repression — that is, governments taking steps to silence critics and dissidents beyond their own borders — has become increasingly brazen, according to the latest data from the nonprofit Freedom House, which has been tracking such incidents for a decade. In 2024, governments perpetrated 160 incidents of physical transnational repression across 34 countries, including assassinations, abductions, assaults, detentions, and unlawful deportations, with cooperation between governments enabling entire groups of dissidents and journalists to be targeted at once. Read more via Freedom House

Opportunities and other highlights

READ: “RightsCon digital rights summit to be held in Taipei for first time”

The countdown is on! RightsCon 2025 takes place only weeks from now, from February 24-27 (Taipei and online), bringing together activists, journalists, government representatives, and business leaders from around the world to address the most pressing issues for human rights in the digital age. Focus Taiwan talks to Access Now Executive Director Alejandro Mayoral Baños about why the summit is taking place in Taiwan and what’s in store for participants. Read more via Focus Taiwan

OONI community survey — share your thoughts

The Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), our long-time partner in the fight against internet shutdowns and online censorship, has launched a new community survey to gather feedback on their tools, resources, and documentation. Take 10 minutes to complete the survey, and you can help improve tools for verifying shutdowns and achieving accountability! Read more via OONI

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