This course offers an introduction to internet shutdowns, including an overview of the shutdown problem and examples of different ways governments shut down the internet and other communications channels. It will examine how internet shutdowns exacerbate human rights abuses and interfere with democratic processes. The course looks into who is fighting back and multi-stakeholder advocacy strategies used by the global #KeepItOn coalition to end internet shutdowns.

Introduction to Internet Shutdowns

Advocating and Campaigning Against Internet Shutdowns

#KeepItOn Campaign Manager, Access Now

Felicia Anthonio

@FelAnthonio

Introduction to the course

The facts on internet shutdowns

How internet shutdowns harm human rights?

Quiz - The basics of internet shutdowns

History of internet shutdowns - From Egypt to Myanmar

Defining internet shutdowns (#KeepItOn definition)

Technical means to shutdown the internet

Quiz - Am I experiencing an internet shutdown

What are internet shutdowns?

Why internet shutdowns are a barrier to elections

Civil unrest, protests and shutdowns

What activists need to know

Case study - Susan Mwape, Common Cause Zambia Case study

Quiz - activity

Cuba Case Study - Norges Rodríguez, Yucabyte

Internet shutdowns and democracy

Tips for planning for shutdowns during elections and civil unrest

About the #KeepItOn Coalition

Internet shutdown monitoring tools

Liaising with national and International institutions over shutdowns

Why the private sector matters

Advocacy and internet shutdowns

Wrap up video

Course survey

Conclusion

Access Now

This course focuses on internet shutdowns and how to mobilise and fight against them. Aimed at civil society organisations and grassroots activists, the course provides practical advice, tactics, and strategies that individuals or organisations with limited resources can enact.

The impacts of shutdowns

Fighting shutdowns – strategies and tactics for campaigners

Fighting against shutdowns – lessons from the #KeepItOn campaign

Introduction

The global deterioration of democracy and shrinking space for civil society

Shutdowns in Africa: who is perpetrating them? Who is fighting back?

Shutdowns in Asia Pacific: who is perpetrating them? Who is fighting back?

Shutdowns in the Middle East & North Africa:who is perpetrating them?Who is fighting?

Shutdown in Latin America & the Caribbean:who is perpetrating them?Who is fighting?

Shutdowns in Eastern Europe & Central Asia:who is perpetrating them? Who is fighting?

Why fight against internet shutdowns?

Elections watch and shutdown advocacy toolkit

Shutdowns during civil unrest and protests

Shutdowns during exam periods

Staying safe during a shutdown

Can you challenge an election shutdown perpetrator?

Fighting shutdowns via international institutions, community & courts

How companies can fight shutdowns - UN guidance

Fighting internet shutdowns around the world

Case study: shutdowns and gender

Case study: shutdowns and humanitarian aid

Case study: shutdowns and disability

Case study: shutdowns and healthcare

Case studies

This course focuses on how to use strategic litigation to contest the imposition of Internet shutdowns and to seek remedies for disruptions where they do occur. It is designed primarily for campaigners and advocates who are seeking to expand their campaign work by using strategic litigation.

The right to information for human rights advocacy

Using Strategic Litigation to Combat Internet Shutdowns

Toby Mendel

Twitter: @tobymendel

Introduction to Internet shutdowns

Overview of key freedom of expression principles

Restrictions on freedom of expression

The rights to seek and receive information

Key freedom of expression principles for shutdowns

Quiz

Human rights framework governing shutdowns

Core Features of strategic litigation vs. ordinary cases

Key issues to consider before engaging in strategic litigation

Using strategic litigation to support freedom of expression

Main steps for running a strategic litigation

Strategic Litigation

Main benefits and challenges of litigating shutdowns

How to design a successful case strategy

Core legal arguments

Further elaboration of core legal arguments

Checklist for legal strategy

Litigating Internet Shutdowns

Importance of advocacy in this context

Framework for developing an advocacy strategy

Case study - MISA Zimbabwe - Helen Sithole

Key advocacy tools and targets for strategic litigation

Engaging with the Media

Advocacy in support of litigation

Common features of the context for Internet shutdowns

Special challenges for litigating shutdowns

Common features of the context for Internet shutdowns - Natalia Krapiva

Tips on responding to challenges

Challenges and Obstacles

Centre for Law and Democracy

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.

Mitigating Online Censorship

Mitigating Internet Shutdowns

Andrés Azpúrua

Valentina Aguana

Internet Shutdowns: A Brief overview & emerging trends

Forms of Internet Shutdowns and related terms

Exploring likelihoods: Mapping political scenarios & expectations

How to anticipate a shutdown?

What are the impacts of an internet shutdown?

Prepare for an internet shutdown like you would prepare for a natural disaster

Case study - Internet shutdown in Venezuela

Identifying and shoring up vulnerable systems in an internet shutdowns

Preparing for an internet shutdown

Circumvention and Anonymity in the context of a network shutdown

What is a VPN?

Accessing the net with VPNs

Case study - Circumventing an internet shutdown in Kazakhstan

Quiz - VPNs

Staying Active and informed: Circumvention and Anonymity During a Shutdown

Offline techniques & strategies for secure communication

SMS Messaging and Silence App - Use Cases and Drawbacks

Using Briar messaging app during total internet blackouts

Local email services and Delta Chat - use cases & drawbacks

Going old school and offline

Staying Connected: Tools and Techniques

Ve Sin Filtro

The course will help you understand the various forms of internet censorship, how and when they might occur, and safe methods for circumventing them.

Meet your instructor & learn about the course

What is internet censorship?

How does internet censorship differ from internet shutdown?

How do I know if the internet is being censored?

Introduction to internet censorship

How the internet works

Routing and IP blocking

Understanding how content is blocked

Understanding Throttling

What is a DNS anyway

When handshakes fail - TCP blocks

Application-layer censorship / DPI

Under the lens: Internet Censorship

Changing your DNS settings / DoH / DNS over TLS

Circumventing blocks with a VPN

Go borderless with Tor

On the Go with TAILS

CENO browser

Mitigating internet blocks

Your site being blocked: First steps & things to consider

Case study - VPNs & internet censorship

Case study - How Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty circumvents internet censorship

Censorship resilient services and website mirrors

Web encryption: HTTPS, ESNI and more

Mitigating internet censorship for your website

Wrap-up video

The course taught by Laura Schwartz-Henderson equips participants with advocacy skills, research techniques, and strategic planning to combat shutdowns.

Developing an Action Plan for Internet Shutdowns

Advocacy & Research Advisor

Laura Schwartz-Henderson

Know what a shutdown is and how different shutdowns technically occur

Why governments shut down the internet and what  triggers a shutdown?

The impact of shutdowns

Know what you need to fight back against shutdowns

Mapping Internet Shutdown Scenarios: No Two Shutdowns Are Alike

Why we need to conduct a risk assessment

Needs Assessment Methodology

How to assess the risks of a shutdown?

How to assess your community needs

Senegal: Preventative and Proactive measures to fight back on shutdowns

Conducting Community Risk & Needs Assessments for Shutdowns

The WHO: Assessing stakeholders

THE WHEN: Building a calendar

THE WHAT: Strategizing & prioritizing our activities & tactics

Bangladesh: Using Research to Developed Nuanced Advocacy in a Challenging Context

Establishing an action plan for internet shutdowns

Conclusion & a note on Funding Internet Shutdown Advocacy

Internews

This course focuses on aspects of engaging with the private sector to end internet shutdowns. It is led by an Executive Director from the Global Network Initiative (GNI) who will introduce learners to key concepts, such as shifting relationships and dynamics between the private sector and government authorities, how to approach them and build relationships with these companies. The course will also focus on long-term relationship building in order to reduce and eventually end network disruptions, including "blanket" shutdowns.

Engaging with the Private Sector to End Internet Shutdowns

Executive Director, Global Network Initiative

Jason Pielemeier

Twitter

Introduction to course

What is the role of the private sector in internet shutdowns?

How are disruptions ordered?

How should ISPs respond to network disruptions?

Orange - case study

Case study - Company Experiences: Orange in Egypt

Case study - Company Experiences: Telenor Group Video

ISPs and Network Disruptions

Familiarizing yourself with the local context

Familiarizing yourself with local laws

Before Approaching a Company

Familiarizing yourself with the company

Building ongoing relationships

During and after a network disruption

Engaging with the company

What can other tech actors do?

Building advocacy alliances with Non-Tech Companies

Engaging Other Private Sector Actors

Course Survey

Global Network Initiative

The purpose of this course is to train you to use IODA. IODA serves as an online Internet connectivity detection platform. We help the Internet freedom community and Internet users globally to verify a disruption in Internet connectivity and understand the extent of disconnectivity of location and duration. To achieve this we provide a public dashboard that monitors the Internet 24/7 and provides Internet connectivity measurements at the country, region, and Internet provider level.

Courses

Advocating and Campaigning Against Internet Shutdowns

Advocating and Campaigning Against Internet Shutdowns

Using Strategic Litigation to Combat Internet Shutdowns

Using Strategic Litigation to Combat Internet Shutdowns

Mitigating Internet Shutdowns

Mitigating Internet Shutdowns

Mitigating Online Censorship

Mitigating Online Censorship

Developing an Action Plan for Internet Shutdowns

Developing an Action Plan for Internet Shutdowns

Engaging with the Private Sector to End Internet Shutdowns

Engaging with the Private Sector to End Internet Shutdowns

Detecting Internet Shutdowns with IODA

Detecting Internet Shutdowns with IODA

Introduction to Internet Shutdowns

Introduction to Internet Shutdowns

Measuring Internet Censorship with OONI tools and Open Data

Measuring Internet Censorship with OONI tools and Open Data

Documenting Human Rights Violations During Internet Shutdowns

Documenting Human Rights Violations During Internet Shutdowns

Open data research for journalists

Open data research for journalists

Making Your Own Podcast

Making Your Own Podcast

Developing SMART Goals for Successful Strategies

Developing SMART Goals for Successful Strategies