Advocacy Assembly Internet Shutdown Academy: Creative Strategies to Fight Back

Internet shutdowns are occurring increasingly around the world, posing significant threats to freedom of expression, access to information, and economic growth. These shutdowns manifest in various forms through different technical measures and are implemented by governments in a wide range of circumstances. From elections and moments of civil unrest or violence to controlling protests and even preventing exam cheating, the justifications for these actions are diverse and often lack transparency and clear legal justifications.

Responding to the growing threat of internet shutdowns and recognising the complexity and challenging nature of this issue, Advocacy Assembly designed the Internet Shutdown Academy, a set of ten full online courses taught by internet shutdown advocacy experts. These courses are free and available online in multiple languages. Alongside this program, Advocacy Assembly partnered with Curious Shapes to design a mentored training program that guides participants through the courses, develops a global network of internet shutdown advocates, and provides the opportunity to put learned skills into practice. More than 700 people participated in this program from 97 countries.  

The training began with participants completing ten online courses, which laid the foundation for understanding the complexities of internet shutdowns and the strategies needed to counter them. These courses covered essential topics such as circumvention strategies, network measurement, advocacy, strategic litigation, research and documentation, and engagement with the private sector. By the end of this phase, participants had gained a solid understanding of the tools and techniques required to navigate and mitigate the impact of internet shutdowns. Participants then developed action plans tailored to address the specific internet shutdown needs and challenges faced by their communities, and 30 participants were selected to receive funds to operationalise their internet shutdown action plans and design trainings, research, and advocacy campaigns for their communities. Over the next three months, they were supported in implementing their projects, putting their newly acquired skills into practice.

The resulting efforts by the AA-ISA participants were astounding. The projects approached internet shutdowns through a creative range of focuses, responding to the needs and internet shutdown threats of participants’ communities, and bringing the distinct skills and experiences of each participant. 

Several projects focused on using creative advocacy to raise awareness about the impact of internet shutdowns and promote new narratives for advocacy campaigns. For example, Gerald Sikazwe from Zambia worked with poets and artists to build a poetry slam and campaign #weremember to remind Zambians of the three day internet shutdown that occurred in 2021 and to ensure no internet shutdown during the next elections. Kumbusho Dawson Kagine worked with a famous political cartoonist to visualise with humour and satire the social, political and economic impact of the 2020 internet shutdown in Tanzania. Sylvia Nalubega from Uganda led a project that equipped a coalition of content creators and activists with knowledge and skills in circumvention tools and digital security. The coalition members created content to illustrate the impact of internet shutdowns and amplify the need to protect the right to information and expression. 

Recognising the importance of collecting data and technically documenting internet shutdowns, some projects focused on providing network measurement trainings. Luis Fernando Arias from Ecuador conducted a hybrid workshop series for human rights defenders and activists, imparting theoretical and practical knowledge on how shutdowns occur technically and how to measure them using tools like OONI and IODA. He also deployed physical probes to measure connectivity in remote areas of the country. Ibrahim Alie Mansaray from Sierra Leone also trained journalists, bloggers, and civil society activists on measuring internet shutdowns using these software applications. Radi Dahan developed informative videos on how to circumvent and measure internet shutdowns that were circulated to thousands of Libyans on popular social media channels. 

Several participants undertook research projects to better understand the impact of shutdowns and the needs of communities in fighting back. Zainab Onuh-Yahaya from Nigeria investigated the long-term impact of the Twitter ban on digital activism and creativity, drawing insights into what it means for various stakeholders. Muhammed Bello Buhari from Nigeria analyzed the effectiveness of state-imposed telecom shutdowns as a counter-terrorism strategy in Northwest Nigeria, examining the socio-economic consequences and community perspectives. Bright Chimedza developed an internet shutdown advocacy needs assessment for Zimbabwe to understand what is needed to support civil society in the fight against shutdowns. 

Some projects aimed to understand how internet shutdowns impact specific groups and marginalized communities, as well as improve understanding of the harms of shutdowns among diverse stakeholders. Saifullahi Muhammad from Nigeria explored the repercussions of internet shutdowns on farmers in Sokoto State, highlighting the challenges faced by agricultural communities who already confront internet infrastructure access and quality issues. Alphonce Odhiambo from Kenya conducted a training program in the Kakuma refugee camp, to understand the distinct access needs and challenges of migrant communities, and empowering refugees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate internet shutdowns and advocate for open and accessible internet access.

Finally, a few participants focused on strategically engaging powerful stakeholders to build legal capacity to fight back against shutdowns. Astou Diouf convened a consortium of lawyers and experts in strategic litigation to understand how the laws in Senegal prohibit or allow for internet shutdowns in order to take the 2023 internet shutdown to the ECOWAS court. Mojirayo Ogunlana developed a digital rights and internet shutdown training manual for Judges to be adopted by the Nigerian National Judicial Institute as a curriculum.

The mentored training program demonstrated the immense potential that exists when activists are empowered through knowledge and experience to develop campaigns and programs to fight back against internet shutdowns based on their community’s needs.

By Laura Schwartz-Henderson