Shutdown Academy
60 mins
Mitigating Internet Shutdowns
- Abstract:
- This course will show some strategies that could mitigate some of the impact caused by internet shutdowns on your community or organization. It will focus on helping to understand what is an internet shutdown on a technical level and how to best protect yourself and others during one.
- About this course:
- The course is divided into chapters, and each one is comprised of a mix of video lessons and written materials especially crafted for each topic. The course also contains cade studies from regions that have suffered internet outages in the past.
- What do I learn:
- Identify the difference between concepts such as "internet shutdown" and "internet outage", as well as several strategies to communicate through different types of internet shutdowns and outages.
- What do I need to know:
- Basic understanding of internet shutdowns and how to assess the risk of one being put in place. The course assumes a general understanding of online messaging applications, the use of web browsers, and how to install and download apps.
Trainers
Andrés Azpúrua
Executive Director at VE Inteligente. Activist and researcher, working in the fields of digital security, civic tech and human rights online. Andrés and his team defend the rights of Venezuelans online and help protect activists, independent media and CSOs.
Valentina Aguana
Valentina Aguana is a Venezuelan digital rights activist, computer engineering student and a member of the NGO VE Sin Filtro since 2019. She monitors internet censorship events and analyses cyber attacks that target dissidents from the Venezuelan government. Valentina also gives training to journalists and activists regarding privacy and security issues.
- 1.1 Introduction to the course1.2 Internet Shutdowns: A Brief overview & emerging trends1.3 Forms of Internet Shutdowns and related terms1.4 Exploring likelihoods: Mapping political scenarios & expectations
- 2.1 How to anticipate a shutdown?2.2 What are the impacts of an internet shutdown?2.3 Prepare for an internet shutdown like you would prepare for a natural disaster2.4 Case study - Internet shutdown in Venezuela2.5 Identifying and shoring up vulnerable systems in an internet shutdowns
- 3.1 Circumvention and Anonymity in the context of a network shutdown3.2 What is a VPN?3.3 Accessing the net with VPNs3.4 Case study - Circumventing an internet shutdown in Kazakhstan3.5 Quiz - VPNs
- 4.1 Offline techniques & strategies for secure communication4.2 SMS Messaging and Silence App - Use Cases and Drawbacks4.3 Using Briar messaging app during total internet blackouts4.4 Local email services and Delta Chat - use cases & drawbacks4.5 Going old school and offline
- 5.1 Conclusion5.2 Course survey
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Suggested reading
Blog
Evaluating the Efficacy of State-Imposed Telecom Shutdowns in Northwest Nigeria
This article casts doubt on the shutdowns' effectiveness in curbing banditry, exposing alternative explanations for any temporary decrease in attacks. It questions the legitimacy of justifying these shutdowns as effective counter-terrorism measures, advocating for alternative approaches that prioritize community engagement, human rights, and development initiatives to address the root causes of insecurity and foster lasting peace in Northwestern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.
Blog
Impact of the Twitter Ban in Nigeria
This post is a research study on the impact of the Twitter ban in Nigeria on Human Rights Monitoring, Advocacy and Creativity. Read more.
Blog
Four Free Toolkits to Fight Internet Shutdowns
Let’s tell you a little bit more about each toolkit!
Blog
The Impact of Internet Disruptions on Farmers in Nigeria
In Nigeria’s Northwestern Sokoto State, farm workers grapple with geopolitical challenges, shifting climate realities, and economic turbulence. However, they now face a new, growing threat: a troubling rise in internet disruptions, which threatens their ability to work in an increasingly digitally connected world. Read more.
Blog
Central Asian Network of Internet Activists
Central Asian Network of Internet Activists (CANIA) is a network of dedicated researchers and activists with a passion for digital rights, security, and development. Originating from Central Asia, they understand the challenges of internet accessibility and the pivotal role of the internet in economic advancement. CANIA’s efforts centre around increasing awareness of pressing issues like data privacy, internet accessibility, digital literacy... read more.
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Investing in the Fight Against Digital Authoritarianism in Senegal
On February 3, Senegal’s President Macky Sall announced a delay of the much-anticipated presidential elections, originally planned for February 25, in what some are calling a “constitutional coup.” Protests erupted, and the government imposed a mobile internet shutdown. Read more...