Bread&Net Online: Digital Rights in Times of War

SMEX will host the sixth iteration of the annual regional digital rights event, Bread&Net, which will be held online on May 13, 14, and 15.

Bread&Net is an event that brings together tech experts, activists, policymakers, academics, and media practitioners from the region to discuss and address pressing issues at the intersection of technology, society, and human rights. This gathering aims to strengthen an already blooming digital rights movement in West Asia and North Africa, fostering the exchange of knowledge, research, and digital resources to sustain civil society in its fight for safe, just, and inclusive digital spaces. 

Our region is at a volatile and bleak moment. Over the past year, Sudan has been under a harrowing and largely forgotten war, with over eight million people forced to flee for safety and nearly 20 million facing severe food insecurity. In Yemen, more than half the population is in dire need of aid after a decade of fighting. The Israeli occupation continues its unrelenting genocidal agenda in Gaza while bombing towns and villages in Lebanon’s south on a daily basis. 

Violence and political instability inflict immeasurable suffering upon millions and also bring about significant challenges to digital rights in our region. In response to these pressing issues, we invite you to participate in our upcoming event, Bread&Net Online, hosted by SMEX.

On May 13, 14, and 15, SMEX will hold a series of webinars as part of Bread&Net Online: Digital Rights in Times of War. These sessions will cover challenges related to internet access and shutdowns, content moderation, misinformation, and data privacy, among others.

“I would like to emphasize the importance of bringing our community together to share and express emerging issues related to digital rights that we are all facing during this time of war. It is crucial that we continue to support one another and organize to challenge any online injustice, from algorithmic biases to local regulations in our region,” said Mohamad Najem, Executive Director at SMEX. 

Bread&Net is a free and public online event, open to anyone interested in how technology shapes, brings forth, and even hinders human rights. We encourage participants from academia, civil society organizations, policymakers, and the private sector to join us as we envision a more inclusive, secure, and rights-respecting digital future for our region.

To register for Bread&Net, click here.