7amleh’s New Report Reveals Intensified Surveillance and Digital Rights Violations in East Jerusalem

December 10, 2024, 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media has released a new report titled "Intensification of Surveillance in East Jerusalem Since October 2023." The report sheds light on the escalation of Israeli digital surveillance policies and their impact on the civil and political rights of Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem since 7 October 2023. It presents detailed findings based on 15 interviews with Jerusalemite Palestinians, in addition to a survey conducted between September and October of this year, involving 502 respondents from East Jerusalem.

The report indicates that Israeli surveillance and digital control policies have reached unprecedented levels over the past year. These measures have included mass arrests based on digital activities, arbitrary dismissals from workplaces and educational institutions, and an increased reliance on advanced technologies such as facial recognition systems, drones, and spyware. It also examines how these policies affect fundamental rights, including privacy, freedom of movement, and freedom of expression. The survey shows that 37.4% of respondents do not feel confident at all about protecting their data and privacy online, while 65.3% reported feeling as though using social media posed a personal risk. Additionally, 25% report significant changes in their ability to move freely outside the city. The report also reveals that 70% of respondents exercise self-censorship on social media content for fear of retribution.

These restrictions have not been limited to the digital sphere; they have also impacted the economic and social lives of Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Many have been forced to leave their jobs or educational institutions due to increased movement restrictions and surveillance. The climate of fear is pervasive; 16.7% of respondents say they are very concerned about surveillance in their daily lives, and 30.8% are somewhat concerned.

The report notes a systematic increase in the use of digital surveillance technologies, including surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition, drones, and predictive “criminal” behavior algorithms. Such technologies have been used to justify practices like home raids and arbitrary arrests, even without any actual criminal offense. The report indicates that the number of Palestinians held in administrative detention has reached unprecedented levels since 1967, with rising cases of arrests related to social media posts.

Ahmed Qadi, Manager of Monitoring and Documentation at 7amleh, stated: “This report highlights a dangerous escalation in surveillance practices that violate the fundamental human rights of Palestinians in East Jerusalem since October 2023. Surveillance technologies are being systematically employed to restrict freedom of movement, expression, privacy, and digital participation. We call on the international community and technology companies to assume responsibility and put a stop to these human rights violations facilitated by their technologies.”

The report urges the international community to strengthen accountability mechanisms against Israeli authorities and to exert pressure ensuring compliance with international standards on digital rights protection, freedom of movement, and freedom of expression. It calls on civil society to take practical steps to raise awareness of digital rights violations, provide legal support to affected individuals, and systematically document such violations. As for technology companies, the report encourages them to ensure that their technologies are not used to violate human rights and to commit to transparency and accountability regarding their use in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

For the full report, please visit the link here.