Buyer beware: how AI is infiltrating humanitarian aid operations

As this year began, a quarter of a billion people were in urgent need of humanitarian help — yet funding for such assistance is at its lowest in a decade. Some humanitarians are turning to AI-based tools to do more with less. But as we explore in our new report, Reinventing humanitarian aid procurement for the age of AI, the way AI is infiltrating the sector threatens non-negotiable cornerstones of humanitarian action, and could deepen the digital divide between large NGOs and local organizations with fewer resources. Read our research and recommendations; then check out our proposed framework to enable humanitarian actors to implement AI in a rights-respecting way. Read more via Access Now

Eyes on the 2026 elections

NEW: 2026 elections and internet shutdowns watchlist

Earlier this month, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) once again warned African governments not to shut down the internet during elections — after the Ugandan and Republic of Congo governments chose to do exactly that. With election shutdowns like these on the rise worldwide, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition have identified 10 countries to watch in the coming year, to support human rights advocates pushing back. Read more via Access Now

A blow for digital rights in the EU

European Parliament votes in favor of ICE-style deportations and offshore detentions

Yesterday, the European Parliament voted to move the EU’s draconian “Return Regulation” on to the next stage of negotiations. The law would allow widespread, ICE-style detention and deportation of migrant people, including children, and enable mass data collection, data sharing, and expanded surveillance infrastructure. That’s only a “win” for anti-immigrant extremists, for the controversial EU border agencies that enforce deportations, and for the companies that profit from the war on migrants; it is a loss for human dignity. It’s not too late to make your voice heard; sign this petition to say no to mass deportations in Europe, and follow WeKeepUsSafe for updates on how to resist. Read more via Equinox

LISTEN: “AI, surveillance, and migration: inside Europe’s tech-driven border policies”

Digital surveillance infrastructure underpins Europe’s migration policies. In the latest episode of the Somewhere on Earth podcast, Access Now’s Caterina Rodelli unpacks our recently published research exposing the “marriage of convenience” between EU border agencies and tech companies. “The problem is that such a vital sector of public life — how European states approach migration — is being defined by the interests of the private sector,” she says. “When it's about migration, there is no European rule on transparency.” Tune in via Somewhere on Earth

READ: “Civil disobedience in digitally networked spaces”

Marginalized groups, including migrants and those who defend them, are bearing the brunt of growing restrictions on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, online and off. A new report by the European Center for Non-for-Profit Law (ECNL), which features insights from Access Now’s Caterina Rodelli, Giulio Coppi, and former colleague Eliška Pírková, looks at how increasing restrictions and exposure to digital surveillance are impacting the people speaking out for our rights. Read more via ECNL

Life in the dark

Iran wields wartime internet access as a political tool

It’s now been almost a month since Iran was plunged into a near-total internet blackout in the wake of the U.S. and Israeli attacks. The shutdown is cutting people off from lifesaving updates, information about loved ones, and perspectives from the ground. A new essay from Mahsa Alimardani of the human rights organization WITNESS looks at how the Iranian regime is weaponizing connectivity in wartime, making it clear that “the internet is reserved for those who carry the state’s voice, and it is withheld from everyone else.” Access Now reiterates our call for Iranian authorities to restore connectivity and refrain from imposing further disruptions. Read more via Carnegie

Internet outages disrupt daily life in Russia, fueling fears of a digital crackdown

In Russia, the government has continued to draw the digital iron curtain ever closer, including by blocking popular communications platforms like Telegram. Some Moscow residents are reportedly relying on walkie-talkies and pagers to cope with unexplained internet restrictions, as the situation worsens and country-wide shutdowns exacerbate fear and uncertainty about what happens next. Read more via CNN

Opportunities and other highlights

FINAL CALL: RightsCon e-Visa applications

If you’re planning to join us for RightsCon 2026 (May 5-8) in person in Lusaka, Zambia, don’t forget to check whether you qualify for visa-free entry. We recommend that all participants requiring a visa apply for an e-Visa, as this allows us to support your applications directly — but make sure to submit your request by April 3. Read more via Access Now

FIND US: Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2026

This year’s edition of the Palestine Digital Activism Forum (PDAF), taking place online from March 30-31, explores the battle to shape Palestinian digital narratives in the information age. Access Now’s Aymen Zaghdoudi will join a discussion on crafting a human-rights-based response to digital propaganda for war — learn more and register here. Read more via PDAF

REGISTER: Privacy Symposium 2026

The annual Privacy Symposium (April 20-24; Venice, Italy) is an opportunity for experts, authorities, and researchers to discuss the latest developments in data governance, regulatory compliance, and innovative technologies. Access Now’s Franco Giandana Gigena will speak about how to strengthen spyware defenses and how content moderation rules impact access to information. Register now. Read more via Privacy Symposium

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