Welcome to the Advocacy Assembly Shutdown Academy

Internet shutdowns are on the rise globally. In 2021, 182 shutdowns in 34 countries around the world were documented, according to Access Now. As internet disruption and shutdowns are often accompanied by state repression, military invasions, and violence, it has never been more important to educate activists, journalists, and citizens affected by internet disruptions and online censorship.

This is why we have launched the Advocacy Assembly Shutdown Academy -- to share all the valuable knowledge and skills needed to help people identify, measure, circumvent and advocate against shutdowns.

What can you learn with the Advocacy Assembly Shutdown Academy?

This curriculum features 10 free online courses in eight languages designed to educate activists, journalists, or anyone impacted by internet disruption. The courses are presented in English and translated into Arabic, French, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. You will learn everything from the basics and general concepts of internet shutdowns to more specialised topics like measuring and mitigating them as well as advocating and litigating against them.

Below you will find a list of all of the courses along with the organisations presenting them.

Courses & Partners:

1. Documenting Human Rights Violations During Shutdowns (WITNESS)
2. Measuring Internet Censorship with OONI tools & open data (OONI)
3. Introduction to Shutdowns (Access Now)
4. Documenting Shutdowns: Network Measurements (IODA)
5. Developing an Action Plan for Internet Shutdowns (Internews)
6. Engaging With the Private Sector To End Shutdowns (GNI)
7. Mitigating Online Censorship (VESinFiltro)
8. Mitigating Internet Shutdowns (VESinFiltro)
9. Advocating & Campaigning Against Internet Shutdowns (Access Now)
10. Using Strategic Litigation to Combat Internet Shutdowns (CLD)