ARTICLE 19

12/08/2026

The European Union is presiding over the most significant expansion of border surveillance in its history – in the process, outsourcing power to private companies. 
 

Our new report ‘Your data, their decision’ looks at the rollout of the EU’s new digital system capable of screening over 1.4 billion travellers ✈️, which turns people into searchable profiles combining biometric, migration, visa, and law enforcement data. 
 

At the heart of this system is EU-LISA: a little-known agency responsible for building and operating the large-scale digital systems underpinning Europe’s migration and border regime. 

🔍 We analysed €1.99 billion in contracts awarded by EU-LISA and show how private companies have been given unprecedented power to shape how the systems operate, with no public oversight. 

The design, development, and deployment of digital border infrastructure cannot proceed in the dark. Our report includes recommendations – to EU institutions, member states, regulators, companies and civil society – to help ensure it is brought back into the scope of democratic accountability.

Find out more — link in bio.

31/07/2026

Targeting a woman’s identity and not what she says or does is not legitimate criticism. It is gender-based violence and discrimination.

ARTICLE 19 is concerned by the growing number of smear campaigns, cyber-harassment, hate speech, and judicial proceedings targeting women in Tunisia, particularly those who are visible in public life.

Beyond the individuals directly targeted, these attacks send a message to all women, severely undermining their right to participate freely in public life. The result is a lasting effect of exclusion and self-censorship.

Read more — link in bio

Photo credit: Hasan Mrad/Shutterstock

22/07/2026

Tunisia’s crackdown on media freedom has intensified: over the last week, journalists Haythem el Mekki, Hamza Belloumi, Insaf Boughdiri, and Hichem Snoussi – a former legal representative for ARTICLE 19 MENA – have all been handed down heavy sentences.  

Read more about the government’s new campaign of harassment, and our calls for it to drop charges against journalists reporting in the public interest.
 
Link in bio

07/07/2026

ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned about the reported arrests of Houman Jowkar and Sepideh Kashani, environmentalists from the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, by Iranian security forces on 1 July. Their detention is part of a broader pattern of repression targeting civil society, human rights advocates, and other individuals engaged in public interest activities. We call for their immediate release and all charges to be dropped against them. 
 
Link to the full statement in bio

29/06/2026

15/06/2026

Today, the United Kingdom announced a ban on social media for under-16s. The ban is framed as a protective measure — but in reality it’s unlikely to make children safer. 
 
By shifting responsibility away from social media platforms and onto users, the government is avoiding the real issues: business models that profit from maximising engagement, harvesting data and amplifying harmful content.

29/05/2026

How can we engage with CEN and CENELEC, the bodies turning EU law into standards? 

ARTICLE 19’s new guide outlines how civil society can engage and advocate for technical standards, including for AI, that protect human rights.

Our guide presents 4 pathways:
 
➡️ Participate through CEN/CENELEC public interest networks.
 
➡️ Join one of the National Standards Bodies, the most powerful and influential stakeholders.

➡️Obtain liaison status and join a Technical Committee – gain access to working documents and technical meetings.

➡️Civil society must engage to ensure human rights and the public interest are not sidelined, and that digital technologies – and their standards – benefit society as a whole.

Read our guidelines. Link in bio.

20/05/2026

❗ Call for applications!

Together with the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Promo-LEX, and the Independent Journalism Center, we are launching SCOPE - a leadership programme for civil society groups in 🇲🇩

This project is dedicated to reinforcing democratic participation in hashtag and empowering civil society to monitor and engage in the EU accession process.

🧾 The topics will cover the 🇪🇺 integration process, fundamental rights, and policy drafting, networking and building partnerships with European peers, and more!

Share widely and apply:
https://www.article19.org/resources/moldova-expanding-civil-society-role-in-eu-accession/

14/05/2026

Call for Applications: Free Digital Security Programme for Civil Society Groups in Moldova

Strengthen your organisation’s digital security and resilience with us!

Participants will collaboratively develop practical solutions to the digital security challenges facing civil society in Moldova and receive tailored support that may include:
 
digital security assessments
secure communication tools
website and account protection
staff awareness trainings
secure cloud storage and backups
protection of sensitive data
incident response planning
 
Deadline for applications: 27 May

Link in bio