EFF Honors Four Organizations Leading the Fight for Digital Rights and Freedom Online
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has named Access Now, 7amleh, DeFlock, and New Media Rights as recipients of its 2026 Awards, recognizing their efforts to protect digital freedoms and advance technology that serves justice and innovation.
Four organizations working to defend digital rights and expand technological access have been selected as recipients of the 2026 EFF Awards. The honorees—Access Now, 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, DeFlock, and New Media Rights—have demonstrated substantial contributions to ensuring technology serves the interests of freedom, justice, and innovation globally.
The EFF Awards program identifies and celebrates organizations making meaningful technical, social, economic, or cultural advances across fields ranging from journalism and art to digital access, legislation, technology development, and law. Over three decades, the awards—originally called the Pioneer Awards—have acknowledged leaders advancing freedom and innovation on the internet. What began as recognition during the internet's early years has evolved to reflect how digital tools now form an essential part of modern life, enabling communication, organizing, creative expression, and expanded human potential.
The four award recipients exemplify the kind of work the EFF seeks to honor: building a worldwide movement for digital rights, safeguarding digital access in areas of conflict, mobilizing communities to resist surveillance, and offering free legal support to creators and users confronting digital threats. These efforts collectively contribute to creating a technology landscape that benefits everyone.
Access Now – Driving Human Rights Progress Through Digital Advocacy
Established in 2009 as an emergency response initiative assisting Iranian activists in regaining secure online communication, Access Now has evolved into a leading global defender of digital rights for vulnerable populations and communities. The organization now stands at the forefront of the worldwide resistance to technological repression.
The organization operates a round-the-clock Digital Security Helpline delivering immediate technical guidance to civil society organizations, activists, media outlets, journalists, bloggers, and human rights workers. Beyond direct assistance, Access Now distributes funding to organizations on the frontlines of digital rights abuses, engages with policymakers and institutional leaders, and convenes RightsCon, an influential yearly gathering bringing together activists, technologists, officials, corporate representatives, journalists, funders, scholars, and creative professionals to collaborate on advancing human rights in the digital sphere.
7amleh – Strengthening Digital Rights Across the Middle East and North Africa
Operating across the MENA region and Palestinian territories, 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media works to protect and expand digital access and rights. The organization conducts research and surveillance of obstacles to digital freedoms, with particular attention to internet connectivity, data protection, and online expression and association.
Through training programs, 7amleh strengthens the capacity of activists, rights defenders, and civil society groups in digital rights awareness, gender-informed digital security practices, and strategic online engagement. The organization simultaneously pursues policy transformation at governmental, corporate, and institutional levels across local, regional, and international contexts. Its campaigns and coalition-building efforts aim to establish digital spaces that are accessible, equitable, and unrestricted. The organization has spearheaded the #ReconnectGaza campaign, backed by numerous international organizations including EFF, to restore comprehensive internet service to Gaza residents, journalists, activists, and emergency personnel.
DeFlock – Mapping and Countering Automated Surveillance Systems
DeFlock, an open-source initiative launched in 2024 by privacy specialist and software developer Will Freeman, documents surveillance infrastructure globally to enable communities to demand accountability from governments and surveillance technology providers. The project focuses on exposing automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems and their implications for personal privacy and fundamental freedoms.
Through its resources, DeFlock enables individuals to obtain government records, engage with elected representatives, and mobilize against ALPR deployment. The initiative has catalyzed the growth of a decentralized network of activists working to resist this form of surveillance technology.
New Media Rights – Providing Legal Defense for Digital Creators and Users
Based in San Diego as a nonprofit initiative of California Western School of Law, New Media Rights focuses on safeguarding digital freedoms through legal representation, educational programming, and advocacy on policy matters. Since its founding, the organization has worked to shield creators, entrepreneurs, and online users from digital harms including copyright misuse, online abuse, and privacy breaches.
Beyond offering free legal support, New Media Rights has developed hundreds of open-access educational resources in video and written formats for creators and the general public, including the Fair Use App designed for filmmakers and video professionals. The organization has engaged in regulatory processes addressing net neutrality, Digital Millennium Copyright Act restrictions, and copyright modernization. Additionally, its efforts have advanced transparency in government and corporate operations.
Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation (Deeplinks / Updates)