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
Related courses
60 mins
Shutdown Academy
Documenting Human Rights Violations During Internet Shutdowns
WITNESS60 mins
Shutdown Academy
Documenting Human Rights Violations During Internet Shutdowns
WITNESS
90 mins
Shutdown Academy
Measuring Internet Censorship with OONI tools and Open Data
Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)90 mins
Shutdown Academy
Measuring Internet Censorship with OONI tools and Open Data
Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)
Suggested reading
Blog
Defending Online Freedom: Three Organisations in Action
Internet freedom has been threatened globally due to the rise of censorship, internet shutdowns, and surveillance. Such actions have significantly impacted individuals' ability to access information, express themselves freely, and communicate with others online. In this blog, we will discuss three such organisations. Each of these organisations shared with us insights learned from their experiences as part of our new shutdown academy courses.
Blog
How The Economist uses IODA to report on Internet shutdowns
This is a case study from our course ‘Detecting Internet Shutdowns with IODA’, in our Internet Shutdown Academy, which features 10 courses in seven languages taught by experts from leading organisations. It is designed to educate activists, journalists, and anyone impacted by internet disruptions and online censorship.
Blog
Relaunching Stronger: Discover Exciting Updates on Advocacy Assembly!
We're excited to announce the launch of our new website! Read more!
Blog
Internet Shutdown Mentored Training Program
Advocacy Assembly presents the Shutdown mentored training program, a six-week online initiative that features international experts and provides participants with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to prepare better for shutdowns and build an Internet shutdown advocacy campaign.
Blog
The human cost of internet shutdowns
In the age of technology, the internet has become a crucial aspect of daily life for millions of people around the world. From online shopping to social media and communication, the internet has changed the way we interact with one another and access information. However, internet shutdowns are increasingly becoming a common occurrence in many countries, with potentially serious consequences for citizens and their rights.
Blog
Case study: Experiencing a shutdown in Cuba during protests
In July 2021, Cuba saw the largest protests in more than 100 years taking place throughout the country. Cubans flooded the streets to demand better access to food, water, medicine, and COVID-19 vaccines, calling for government reforms. The first protest took place in a small town out of Havana called San Antonio de los Baros. The unrest was live-streamed on Facebook and had a domino effect throughout the country. Read more..