2026 EFF Award Winners: Access Now, 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, DeFlock, and New Media Rights
EFF is pleased to announce that Access Now, 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, DeFlock, and New Media Rights have received 2026 EFF Awards for their vital work in ensuring that technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for all people. The EFF Awards recognize specific and substantial technical, social, economic, or cultural contributions in diverse fields…
In 2026, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) honored four organizations for their significant contributions to digital rights and innovation. These organizations received the EFF Awards, which recognize substantial technical, social, economic, or cultural contributions in various fields.
Access Now, founded in 2009, has become a leading organization defending digital rights and extending access to technology for those at risk. Their 24/7 Digital Security Helpline provides real-time assistance to civil society groups, activists, media organizations, journalists, and human rights defenders. Access Now also offers grants to frontline organizations working to combat digital rights violations and organizes RightsCon, an annual summit on human rights in the digital age.
7amleh, the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, works to protect and expand digital access and rights for Palestinians and the MENA region. They investigate and monitor challenges to digital rights, focusing on internet access, privacy, and freedom of expression online. 7amleh trains activists and civil society organizations on digital rights, gender-sensitive security, and effective online advocacy.
They also advocate for changes to digital rights policies and practices of governments, corporations, and influential individuals.
DeFlock, an open-source, volunteer-powered project founded in 2024 by Will Freeman, maps surveillance devices worldwide. This helps communities hold governments and surveillance vendors accountable for their surveillance practices and understand where they are being watched. DeFlock's resources empower people to request public records, engage with local lawmakers, and take action against ALPR surveillance.
New Media Rights, a San Diego-based nonprofit program of California Western School of Law, defends digital rights through legal services, education, and public policy advocacy. They provide free legal assistance to creators, entrepreneurs, and internet users facing digital threats such as copyright abuse, online harassment, and privacy violations.
NMR also produces educational resources, including the Fair Use App for filmmakers, and participates in regulatory proceedings on net neutrality, copyright reform, and other digital rights issues.
Written by urgent.news from EFF Deeplinks's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
