## Digital Rights Advocacy in the Middle East and North Africa Digital rights in the Middle East and North Africa have transformed from a niche concern into a broad human rights movement. Organizations like SMEX, Nawaat, ADEF, and 7amleh, along with newer coalitions like the Middle East Alliance for Digital Rights, are at the forefront of this evolution. ## EFF Defends ICEBlock App in First Amendment Lawsuit The **EFF** is representing ICEBlock in a First Amendment lawsuit. ICEBlock is an iPhone app that allows users to report immigration activity. The lawsuit alleges that federal officials retaliated against the company and its creator, coercing **Apple** into suppressing the app's speech. ## EFF Challenges DHS and ICE Subpoenas The **EFF** is suing the **Department of Homeland Security (DHS)** and **Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)** to force the disclosure of records regarding the misuse of administrative subpoenas. These subpoenas were allegedly used to demand that online services reveal the identities and personal information of internet users critical of or monitoring immigrant enforcement activities, violating Section 1509. ## Call for Journalist's Release in Kuwait The **EFF** is calling on the Kuwaiti government to immediately release journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin. Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning journalist formerly with *Al Jazeera* and a dual American-Kuwaiti citizen, was arrested in Kuwait on March 3. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has also reported on the situation, highlighting concerns over press freedom. ## The Rising Tide of Network Shutdowns The number of internet shutdowns reached a new record in 2025, surpassing the previous high in 2024. Network disruptions are becoming a routine measure by authorities in response to periods of heightened political sensitivity, raising concerns about censorship and freedom of information. ## Gulf States Tighten Grip on Speech Under War Pretext Governments in the Gulf States are increasingly invoking “misinformation” during wartime to justify restrictions on speech. This trend reflects a broader effort to control narratives and suppress dissent, particularly in the context of conflicts involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and related regional tensions.