Fears Iran’s internet shutdown could lead to “extreme digital isolation”

As you read these words, 92 million people across Iran are still suffering under what has now become one of the longest, most comprehensive nationwide internet shutdowns on record; used to conceal horrific bloodshed and the massacre of thousands of protesters. Now reports suggest that the Iranian regime could extend the current restrictions until March — and may even keep the country permanently disconnected from the global internet. Read more via BBC News

How to #KeepItOn in Iran

Inside the fight to keep Iran online

Even in darkness, there are flickers of light. The New York Times reports on the technologists and activists who have been working for years to keep Iranians connected, despite repeated government attempts to force them offline. The tools they are using include Starlink terminals smuggled into the country at great personal risk, which authorities continue to target and criminalize. Read more via The New York Times

WATCH: “Shutdowns tend to enable governments to conceal human rights abuses”

Every internet shutdown entails heavy human costs, from physical endangerment and human rights violations to devastating economic damage. Access Now’s Felicia Anthonio talks to FRANCE 24 about the impact of Iran’s shutdown and how the international community should respond. Watch now via FRANCE 24

UNESCO urges governments worldwide to #KeepItOn

Good news: UNESCO, the UN agency that works to foster world peace and security through cooperation on communication, has released a statement calling on states to implement policies that facilitate access, rather than imposing barriers, to connectivity. “Internet disruptions not only affect journalists, media workers, and media operations of providing verified information and news, but also severely impact the provision of public information to the people. Any disruption of this intricate chain not only undermines the integrity of information but further contributes to the spread of unverified and potentially harmful information,” they write. Bravo. Read more via UNESCO

“No meaningful changes” — Venezuelans still need a VPN to access X

On that note, rumors that Venezuela’s ban on X was lifted turned out to be baseless. Although some government accounts have returned to the platform, Venezuelan digital rights group Ve Sin Filtro confirmed that most people still can’t access X without a VPN because major internet providers, including state‑owned CANTV, continue to block it as part of broader internet censorship rules, in place since the platform was suspended in 2024. Amid the ongoing political upheaval, blocks like this are especially harmful, but people facing disruptions can use obfuscated VPN protocols to help bypass them. Read more via TechRadar

Who really writes EU rules?

Article by article, how Big Tech shaped the EU’s roll-back of digital rights

New analysis from Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl shows how Big Tech is shaping the EU’s Digital Omnibus to weaken protections for personal data, curb accountability, and limit safeguards against algorithmic harm. The report highlights tech companies’ influence on proposals that would impact regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and AI Act. As Access Now’s Daniel Leufer has argued, it’s imperative that those who care about fundamental rights in the EU “raise their voices and use every advocacy, procedural, and legal avenue to turn the tide on this bonfire of [human rights] safeguards.” Read more via Corporate Europe Observatory

AI over lunch: Caterina Rodelli on EU border surveillance

The use of AI for border surveillance is especially dangerous. In an interview with Virtual Routes, Access Now’s Caterina Rodelli explains that while migrants have long been subject to biometric data collection, automated profiling, and expansive surveillance infrastructures, AI has “intensified” these pre-existing practices. While the EU’s AI Act was supposed to guarantee equal protection for all people, protections remain weaker where they matter the most — showing that political choices, not technology, ultimately determine whose rights are safeguarded. Read more via Virtual Routes

Greece’s smart policing system ruled unlawful

In a major victory for data protection and fundamental rights, Greece’s four million euro “Smart Policing” system, which equips officers with devices for facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and document checks, has been ruled unlawful. The Hellenic Data Protection Authority found that the system lacks a legal basis and that its data protection impact assessment was delayed. The ruling makes clear why high-risk surveillance tech must pass strict transparency, accountability, and legality checks before it touches people’s lives. Read more via Homo Digitalis

@WeKeep_UsSafe, how about you?

As the EU moves closer to adopting the controversial Return Regulation, Equinox and other partners have launched @WeKeep_UsSafe, an Instagram channel with one clear message: say no to mass detention, no to mass deportations, and no to the deportation regulation. They need YOUR HELP to stop this law, so follow the page, share it, and spread the word to your friends and networks. And if you have a post about resisting deportations, we encourage you to collaborate or tag @WeKeep_UsSafe. Read more via We Keep Us Safe

Will we see you at RightsCon 2026?

RightsCon 2026 + UNESCO: World Press Freedom Day in Lusaka, Zambia

We’re thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with UNESCO for World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2026, taking place May 4-5, right before RightsCon 2026 on May 5-8. Both events will take place in Lusaka, Zambia, with RightsCon also held online. This collaboration will bring together digital rights defenders, journalists, and press freedom advocates to discuss shared challenges in today’s digital world. Please note: registration for WPFD will be separate from RightsCon, so stay tuned for details. Read more via Access Now

You’re still an early bird for RightsCon!

If you haven’t registered for RightsCon 2026, now’s the time to do it — if you register by February 20, you can lock in early bird pricing and start planning your trip. Read more via Access Now

Opportunities and other highlights

APPLY: Equity Fund for Global Gathering 2026

The Equity Fund provides travel, lodging, security, and visa support for at-risk communities to attend Team CommUNITY’s Global Gathering on September 4-6 in Estoril, Portugal. If you’re planning to attend this year, first secure your ticket, then submit your Equity Fund application as early as possible. Read more via Team CommUNITY

NOMINATE: Front Line Defenders Award 2026

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Front Line Defenders Award, recognizing individuals, collectives, or organizations working at serious risk to protect human rights. Winners will receive a financial prize, as well as advocacy support and media visibility. Submit your nomination by January 23. Read more via Frontline Defenders