DR4G Project
Digital rights research, investigations, case studies and human rights analysis from the Gulf region.
Explore our digital rights research and investigations.
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How Digital Authoritarianism Erodes Social Bonds in the Gulf
In the Gulf region, there has been a shift in social dynamics. Surveillance, infiltration, and censorship; facilitated by authoritarian states and often enabled by Big…
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Silenced Online: Loujain al-Hathloul and the Weaponization of Cybercrime Laws in Saudi Arabia
Loujain al-Hathloul: Digital Dissent, Cybercrime Laws, and the Struggle for Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent Saudi women’s rights activist, has become…
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The United States and Digital Authoritarianism
Freedoms in Decline and the Rise of Digital Authoritarianism Freedom around the world is in decline. With few exceptions, democracies face threats from autocratic actors…
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AI Regulation in Saudi Arabia: Innovation over Human Rights
With the global rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), countries have increasingly adopted regulations to restrict the use of this new technology, exemplified by the AI…
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The Role of the Diaspora in Advocating for Digital Rights in the Gulf
As Gulf states deploy increasingly sophisticated tools of digital control, ranging from surveillance spyware to content censorship, the diaspora has become a vital voice in…
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Why Digital Freedom is a Human Right and What We Can Do to Defend It.
In an era where digital spaces shape political discourse, social movements, and individual expression, the right to digital freedom is more crucial than ever. Yet,…
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Ebtisam Al-Saegh: A Case Study of the Risks Against Women in Bahrain’s Digital Repression
When speaking out for justice becomes dangerous, women like Ebtisam Al-Saegh offer examples of the continuous taument that activists face. A prominent Bahraini human rights…
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Ahmed Mansoor: The Silenced Voice of UAE’s Pro-Democracy Movement
Blogger and pro-democracy activist Ahmed Mansoor’s ongoing imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) underscores the government’s persistent crackdown on free expression and human rights…
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An Introduction to The Role of Big Tech in Digital Oppression: Are Companies Complicit?
In the Gulf region, the relationship between state interests and Big Tech operations has raised significant concerns amongst human rights organisations and activists about the…