We investigate data exploitation practices, track emerging surveillance technologies, and analyze the actors driving these threats. Our findings expose threats and guide development of privacy-protection resources for at-risk communities. We also advocate policies that entrench digital rights.

Governments across the global south are rapidly expanding their capabilities for mass surveillance of citizens through biometric national ID systems, centralized databases, CCTV monitoring and communications interception technologies. What began as systems intended for service delivery and security have transformed into powerful tools for stifling dissent, targeting critics and consolidating authoritarian control.

Lack of rigorous oversight, abuse of access privileges, and absence of due process allow security forces to illegally monitor individuals’ movements, communications and personal data with few consequences. Surveillance has become pervasive, chilling free expression and violating fundamental privacy rights.

As new surveillance technologies like facial recognition, location tracking and data mining advance, the threats to civil liberties grow more acute without appropriate safeguards and public accountability measures in place.

Our Open Source Surveillance Camera Portal (OSSCP) Project is a first step to us documenting this issue – Our team embarked on documenting all credible reports of data access abuses, illegal communications monitoring, and misuse of surveillance tools to establish patterns and build evidence. We’re also working with artists to raise awareness of emerging privacy threats and rally domestic/international pressure for reforms, oversight and constraints on indiscriminate surveillance programs.