Report: U.S. uses AI to revoke visas of foreign students over political speech

This week a federal judge heard arguments in a case challenging the high-profile detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the U.S. who was arrested, stripped of his green card, and denied access to legal representation after he participated in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. While Khalil’s deportation has been temporarily blocked, this horrific precedent puts other protesters at risk. Axios reports on the “Catch and Revoke” initiative, which uses AI to identify student visa holders that espouse views U.S. authorities arbitrarily claim to support Hamas. Read more via Axios

Dig deeper

What “free speech” means in the digital age

In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, the Trump campaign positioned the Republican party as champions of free speech, and today, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insists that Khalil’s arrest is “not about free speech.” In case you missed it, our recent statement unpacks how far-right movements around the world use false “free speech” claims to undermine civil society and restrict free expression, and outlines principles for reclaiming the narrative and protecting people’s rights. Read more via Access Now

Rights coalition urges Trump administration to preserve key AI safeguards

In his first term in office, U.S. President Trump directed federal agencies to “design, develop, acquire, and use AI in a manner that fosters public trust and confidence while protecting privacy, civil rights, civil liberties, and American values.” But the president has now issued an executive order to remove “barriers to American leadership” on AI, dropping protections that are essential for preventing harm. We joined the ACLU-led coalition urging Trump to maintain the transparency and notice measures necessary to keep people safe. Read more via the ACLU

WATCH: “Using the EU AI Act for good”

One of the unfortunate flaws in the EU AI Act is that it carves out loopholes and exemptions for the use of AI in the migration context. But there are still ways civil society groups can use the regulations to protect people’s fundamental rights. Access Now’s Caterina Rodelli joins a panel of experts to explain how it’s done. Watch now via ECNL

Learning from Africa's freedom fighters

How the South Sudan chapter of the Internet Society mobilized to keep the internet on

Last year internet shutdowns hit a record high in Africa, with 21 shutdowns in 15 African countries — a huge blow to human rights and democracy. But that doesn’t mean there’s been no progress fighting the scourge of deliberate network disruptions and platform blocks. The Internet Society tells the inspiring story of successful pushback earlier this year by its South Sudan Chapter, which resulted in the swift reversal of a harmful Facebook and TikTok ban that undermined human rights, disrupted the free flow of information, and damaged the economy. Read more via the Internet Society

Don't take the bait

Dating apps lack of safeguards puts LGBTQ+ Africans at risk

We all deserve love, safety, and the ability to connect with other people. But with the escalation of attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in Africa and around the world, dating apps can too easily become tools for digital ambush. Context talks to LGBTQ+ rights activists about the terrifying real-world consequences of politicized hate speech and digital attacks — and what governments and companies should do to keep people safe. Read more via Context

How to stay safe when you defend LGBTQ+ rights in Africa

All too often, standing up for human rights for all people can put you and your community at risk. Check out our digital safety guide that uses personas and scenarios to help you think through the particular digital threats you face, so you can create a digital security plan that works for you and the people you are trying to protect. Read more via Access Now

Bring Alaa home

RightsCon community calls for urgent release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah

No matter how difficult the fight for human rights may be, none of us has the luxury of giving up. In the wake of the RightsCon 2025 summit, we and our partners continue to call for the immediate release of Egyptian-British human rights advocate Alaa Abd el-Fattah, who has been unjustly imprisoned in Egypt for most of the last decade, and is now undertaking a hunger strike along with his mother Laila Soueif. “Alaa could be any one of us…Please do for him what you would want us to do for you if you were in his position,” said Sara Alsherif, an officer at Open Rights Group and a close friend of Alaa. If you’re in the UK, we encourage you to take action: contact your MP now to ask for his release. Read more via EFF

Opportunities and other highlights

JOIN: “Coda conversations: The playbook — from global patterns to America's new reality”

The U.S. government’s swift U-turn on democracy has already resulted in the international civil rights watchdog CIVICUS placing the country on its watchlist. But what happens next? As our friends at Coda observe, the answer is hiding in plain view. Check out Coda’s interactive webinar on March 23 to hear from experts on the turn toward authoritarianism, and learn what we can expect in the battle for democracy. Read more via Coda

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