Privacy International

24/08/2026

From surveillance systems embedded in Syria’s machinery of repression, commercial spyware in Saudi Arabia, and mass communications monitoring in Egypt, a new SMEX report shows how ‘innovative’ technology can become a tool of control 👇

Read the full report:

Human testing. Those two words evoke mental images of inhumane experiments and feelings of disquiet, as they should. Yet human testing of militarized technology is happening in the Southwest Asia/North Africa (SWANA) region. The militarization of technology refers to the blurring of lines between ci...

21/08/2026

Are you a sexual and reproductive justice activist or organisation looking to protect your work and those you fight for? We have developed a guide to help you better protect your privacy online and on your devices. 👇️

https://privacyinternational.org/long-read/5742/privacy-international-women-web-securing-reproductive-justice-guide-digital-privacy

IntroductionWith digital evidence increasingly used in abortion-related prosecutions, and sexual

19/08/2026

The UK Government reportedly secretly ordered Apple to weaken the security of iCloud again, and Apple is taking the government to court.

No government should be able to secretly order backdoors that destroy privacy and security.

19/08/2026

Maisha Namba - Kenya’s digital ID system - was introduced in 2023 to digitalise how citizen identity is created, managed, authenticated, and used.

But does Maisha Namba reproduce inequalities as marginalised and stateless communities continue to face discrimination in obtaining identity documents? And does it violate the right to privacy as people’s personal data is centralised without the necessary infrastructural and regulatory safeguards?

These themes were addressed as Haki na Sheria paralegals took the stage alongside community members in Garissa Town, Kamuthe and Wabiri Ward over the past year, performing a play about Maisha Namba.

The performance, “My ID, My Right/Aqoonsigayga Waa Xuquuqdayda”, drew in many people, enabling conversations that Kenya’s government had largely kept behind closed doors.

In a world of legal briefs and policy submissions, creative activism is a reminder that the fight for privacy and digital rights is ultimately a fight to ensure that those most affected by digital infrastructures know when and how their data is used. Read the full story:

In Garissa Town, Kenya, on a warm evening in late October, a crowd gathered not for a rally or a court hearing, but for a play. Paralegals took the stage alongside community members, performing in Somali, Swahili and English.

18/08/2026

♠ What regulations apply to political parties and other political actors during elections?

♠ With elections having become more and more “data-driven”, it’s important that all organisations involved in political campaigns process voter data in compliance with data protection principles.

♠ The risks of profiling, predicting and micro-targeting can include echo chambers, the disenfranchisement and discrimination of minoritised voters, the possible chilling of political participation, increased polarisation, the erosion of robust democratic debate, and the weakening of election integrity.

♠ Check out our data, tech and elections card game to learn more!

Following the publication of our Technology, Data and Elections Checklist, we have created a deck of

16/08/2026

Today’s AI can reveal your location from a single photo. Vision‑Language Models (VLMs) can now determine where in the world any given photo is taken, without using any GPS data.

What does that means for your privacy? It can lead to covert surveillance, doxxing, discriminatory policing, and profiling.

One of the most surprising — and concerning — capabilities of the newest Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems is their ability to infer geographic location from images. Vision‑Language Models (VLMs) can now determine where in the world any given photo is taken with striking speed and accuracy.

15/08/2026

📣 Our Data, Technology and Elections Checklist identifies key areas where technology and data play a role in the electoral process. https://privacyinternational.org/advocacy/5158/technology-data-and-elections-updated-checklist-election-cycle

The checklist unpacks modern challenges to elections, including:
🧑‍💻 How personal data is used in political campaigning
🤖 Election tech
💰 The role of private companies

🔨 A tool for electoral observers, the checklist aims to help assess both the technology supporting the electoral process and the potential for voter manipulation through data-intensive political campaigning.

In the last few years, electoral processes and related activities have undergone significant changes, driven by the development of digital technologies.

13/08/2026

Governments and companies around the world are fighting to establish their dominance - plunging us into a ‘tech race’ that is redefining the battlefield and blurring the line between civilian and military infrastructures.

This military tech is seeping into our daily lives, raising urgent questions about who controls our civic life and shapes our future.

What is the militarisation of tech?

12/08/2026

Large tech companies and venture capitalists - but also international consortia made up in part of universities - are participating in the race to develop autonomous weapon systems.

Despite ethical and legal concerns, both private capital and public funds are fueling defence growth.

At the 36th NATO summit in Ankara which took place this July, new contracts were awarded to Athea Sas, Palantir and Anduril.

These companies will purportedly modernise the system used by NATO to manage air operations, integrating real-time information from surveillance, air traffic management and mission control - with the aim of improving coordination and speeding up decisions.

But these technologies are no longer just semi-autonomous drones. They are developing into complex strategic planning systems that process vast amounts of data and determine actions at an increasingly high speed, with minimal human oversight.

Sounds concerning, right? Read more (in Italian) by info.nodes & IrpiMedia: https://irpimedia.irpi.eu/armi-autonome-corsa-alloro-dopo-vertice-nato-ankara/

This article was published as part of a collaborative project that challenges the militarisation of tech globally. The project advocates for a world where tech and society are not dominated by war and conflict. Find out more: https://privacyinternational.org/campaigns/militarisation-of-tech

Fondi pubblici e capitali privati stanno alimentando la crescita della defence tech statunitense. Ecco chi scommette sulle aziende che sviluppano sistemi d'arma autonomi, un settore sempre più vicino al mondo Maga

11/08/2026

The Brazilian Data Protection Authority (ANPD) have finally taken action to protect children in Paraná's schools.
https://g1.globo.com/politica/blog/julia-duailibi/post/2026/08/06/anpd-suspende-reconhecimento-facial-alunos-escolas-parana.ghtml

Paraná had rolled out facial recognition systems in over 2,000 schools across the state - processing the biometric data of more than 1 million students and 100,000 staff.

This is despite serious concerns raised by the ANPD on the the lawfulness of the system, as well as a challenge brought by the Paraná Public Prosecutor's Office.
Now that Paraná's facial recognition is finally receiving the scrutiny it deserves, it's time for other states to take a look at their own deployments of this invasive technology.

Learn more about facial recognition in Brazilian schools in this InternetLab report: https://internetlab.org.br/en/pesquisa-en/lack-of-transparency-and-national-guidelines-mark-the-expansion-of-facial-recognition-in-brazilian-education/

ANPD aponta falta de base legal, tratamento excessivo e falhas de segurança; governo terá dez dias úteis para comprovar a interrupção do sistema.