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

Over the past decade, governments around the world have sought to mitigate online harms and exert greater regulatory control over the internet. To do this, they have amended existing penal codes or enacted new legal frameworks, such as cybercrime laws and data protection regulations. Some of these laws include provisions that restrict online civic space. In many cases, the restrictions do not comply with their obligations under human rights law. How can civil society effectively push back against these restrictions? What are strategies that have worked in other contexts? This course provides actionable lessons that help answer these questions.

Analyzing Laws that Impact Digital Rights and Advocating for Reform

Senior Legal Advisor and Coordinator for Digital Programs

Zach Lampell

Introduction to the Course

Digital Rights Trivia Questions

What are Digital Rights?

Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act

Introduction

International Law and the Three-Part Test

The Legitimacy Standard Explained

The Legality and Proportionality Standards

What Have you Learned about the Three-Part Test?

How International Human Rights Law Applies to the Internet and Digital Technologies

Applying the Three-Part Test to the Use of Spyware in Mexico

Your Turn to Analyze Kazakhstan’s Cyberbullying Provision

Intermediary Liability

Taking Your Analysis to the Next Level

Hate Speech Restrictions

Analyzing Laws that Impact Digital Rights

The Essential Roadmap for Legal Advocacy

Developing an Advocacy Strategy

Putting it All together – A Lesson from Tanzania

How would you address this cybercrime bill?

Tips for Advocacy to Promote Digital Rights

Summary of Lessons

Final Quiz

Wrap up

International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL)

Ensuring that journalists and their audiences know how they might be vulnerable to digital attacks and what information they need to protect is key to selecting and using appropriate digital security tools and techniques. Digital security is therefore essential to the free flow of information online: enabling journalists to safely report on key issues in the public interest and their audiences to engage with this material without compromising on their own security.

Cyber Defense for Journalists, Activists and their Audiences

Kida the cyber-hoopoe / Digital security professional and stress-relief expert

Kida

Getting to know Kida and self-assessment

Risk assessment

Phishing

How to tell if your account has been hacked or your login details are vulnerable

Creating and storing strong passwords

Multi-factor Authentication

Active sessions

Communicating securely

VPNs and anti tracking

Files, cameras and microphones

Top tips

How to protect your phone

RFE/RL Academy

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

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.

Courses

Analyzing Laws that Impact Digital Rights and Advocating for Reform

Analyzing Laws that Impact Digital Rights and Advocating for Reform

Cyber Defense for Journalists, Activists and their Audiences

Cyber Defense for Journalists, Activists and their Audiences

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

Human Rights Monitoring, Reporting and Advocacy

Human Rights Monitoring, Reporting and Advocacy

Human Rights in Practice: The Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief

Human Rights in Practice: The Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief

Introduction to Internet Shutdowns

Introduction to Internet Shutdowns

Developing SMART Goals for Successful Strategies

Developing SMART Goals for Successful Strategies