Ali Sibai is Head of Programme - Digital Rights & Information Security at the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung’s Global Unit for Democracy and Human Rights in Brussels. He leads initiatives that connect digital rights, information security, partner protection, and institutional preparedness. His work includes supporting high-risk protection cases, developing security frameworks, advising on operational security, and advancing programmes on surveillance, spyware, platform governance, LGBTQ+ digital safety, feminist digital governance, and civic space protection. He also co-leads the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung’s Digital Policy Cluster, strengthening coordination and strategic alignment on digital policy across the foundation’s global network. Through this work, he explores how technological systems shape democratic participation, civic space, and fundamental rights.

Over the past decade, Ali has worked with journalists, activists, human rights defenders, feminist movements, LGBTQ+ communities, refugees, and civil society organisations across SWANA and beyond. His expertise spans digital rights, information security, surveillance, civic space, and democratic resilience. He views security not simply as a technical challenge but as a political and collective practice that enables people and movements to act safely, sustainably, and with agency.

His work supports efforts to counter surveillance, censorship, digital repression, online harassment, spyware, platform harms, and shrinking civic space. He is also an ISO Senior Lead Auditor. He has trained and advised more than 1,000 civil society actors on digital security, secure communications, risk management, and organisational resilience. Since 2018, he has served on the advisory board of Bread & Net, supporting its work at the intersection of digital rights, technology, and civic space.