Excellent analysis from @nateschenkkan.bsky.social, who literally helped build the USG's response to transnational repression

We are pleased to announce the relaunch of our China Dissent Monitor! Though we are excited, the project's funding remains limited—we urgently need more support to sustain our team's efforts to track public protest under the CCP regime. Here's how you can help: freedomhouse.org/ways-to-give

One of the things I have enjoyed the most about transitioning from academia to alt ac research in the NGO space is seeing the impacts of research in the wild. This week has been especially significant in that regard.

I governi che prendono di mira le vpn stanno minacciando la libertà di internet: www.wired.it/article/cens... > @alfunk.bsky.social and Patryk Pawlak on @wired.it

“The problem with thinking about foreign policy purely as something to “win” is that winning is seldom final, and a reckless victory can carry its own dangers.” 🔥

We’ve got new research diving deep into how governments are restricting VPNs and end-to-end encryption, including fresh data on blocking. We also showcase stories of resilience, because it's not all bad news! freedomhouse.org/report/speci...

Excellent analysis about the global impact of an America First digital policy foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/04/t...

In Brussels on June 20? Join us for the launch event of our new report, "Tunnel Vision: Anti-censorship Tools, End-to-end Encryption, and the Fight for a Free and Open Internet," in partnership with the European University Institute. Register here: freedomhouse.org/event/shapin...

"I have nothing to hide! I don't need digital privacy!" Well... - AI companies are scraping your data - Scammers are using AI to get better at their schemes - And yeah, a new era of government surveillance... A starter guide to protecting you online life:

The USG's reduction in internet freedom funding upends its longstanding, bipartisan strategy. I spoke with @ramshajahangir.bsky.social about how Freedom on the Net and the broader digital rights community have been impacted by these cuts, and how we are responding to meet this moment.

Great new piece from @freedomhouse.bsky.social's Maddie Masinsin & @thegni.bsky.social's @ramshajahangir.bsky.social on the human rights costs of data localization requirements freedomhouse.org/article/data...

The type of leadership we need in this moment. Grateful to @abramowitz.bsky.social for filing this www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/b...

Doing freedom in the world this year

Terrible news. Freedom in the Net is incredibly valuable. I hope other funders step up with support.

I also received a termination notice for our DOS Freedom on the Net grant. The work has been championed by bipartisan admins & is the foundation for understanding & advocating for internet freedom. We’re going to figure out a way forward. This work is too important for anyone to shut down.

Last night State Department sent Freedom House notification of termination of a multi-year, multimillion dollar grant for work on transnational repression that I spent most of the last year developing and setting up.

The National Endowment for Democracy, a nonprofit that has had bipartisan support over decades for its work promoting democracy abroad, is suing the U.S. government and cabinet officials for withholding $239 million in congressional appropriations.

Another alarming indicator of eroding free speech culture as well as editorial independence at VOA. A longtime reporter is on leave and under investigation, called “treasonous” by a rep for the administration. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/b...

“History will judge us for how we meet this moment. Failing to stand with Ukraine will not only weaken Ukraine, but also damage the security of the United States and its allies by emboldening and empowering autocracies around the world.” freedomhouse.org/article/free...

We at the Internet Society are deeply disappointed that Apple has had to stop offering end-to-end encryption in the UK. The following can be attributed to Dr. Joseph Lorenzo Hall, Distinguished Technologist at the Internet Society: 1/

When Levitsky and Way write the op-ed about your country

We are exceedingly disappointed to hear the UK has secretly ordered Apple to let it spy on all users’ encrypted accounts. The following can be attributed to Robin Wilton @komadori.bsky.social , Senior Director of Internet Trust:

US leadership on internet freedom and the free flow of information is in doubt, write Ramsha Jahangir and Justin Hendrix. Experts are concerned the US will cede important ground to China and Russia.

This NYT piece describes the devastation being wrought in the global health sector by the foreign assistance freeze. Let me say a few words about what this looks like in the sector I work in, often called democracy and governance (DRG). 🧵

So many of my friends, neighbors, and family members are immigrants, trans, non-binary, Muslim—and they still will be tomorrow, and the day after. No one gets to take away who we are. We choose.

I spoke with @wired.com about Americans flocking to RedNote, censorship on the platform, and how this whole scenario demonstrates the ineffectiveness of trying to ban a single app like TikTok in the first place. www.wired.com/story/xiaoho...

I'm proud to be quoted in @freedomhouse.bsky.social's statement on the impending TikTok ban. The platform presents serious national security & human rights concerns. But this law doesn't correctly thread the needle b/w addressing these risks & protecting free speech. freedomhouse.org/article/us-r...

I have a lot of questions about FT’s editorial standards

Content moderation is messy + will always lead to mistakes. But independent fact-checking helps reliable information & free expression flourish. Framing this change as "good for free speech" plays into the false & dangerous narrative that all moderation is censorship. about.fb.com/news/2025/01...

Another day that Ann Telnaes' cartoon hits perfectly

Read this by the one and only @alfunk.bsky.social -- she is spot on. There is a seismic shift happening with authoritarian governments Hijacking Global Tech Cooperation to Undermine Human Rights! freedomhouse.org/article/auth...

Excellent statement and recommendations from the wonderful @thegni.bsky.social + its members on IGF.

The Saudi's hosting of IGF and Russia's (et al) push for the Cybercrime Convention is part of a global strategy by autocrats to cement their authoritarian worldviews at the UN. Yana Gorokhovskaia and I unpacked the Convention's impact on transnational repression: freedomhouse.org/article/auth...

We've been saying *for years* that the cybercrime treaty is an effort to subvert the internet governance system. Russia just said the quiet part out loud: "this [treaty] is the first step towards a universal international legal regulation of the use of ICTs." docs-library.unoda.org/Open-Ended_W...

New: The FTC struck settlements with two major data brokers in what could be one of Lina Khan's last big actions on data privacy as chair. Spoke to the head of their consumer protection bureau about the cases: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

#Russia and #China won big with the #Cybercrime Treaty, which is about to become a reality for governments around the world. That reality is filled with dangers for human rights, for activism and for citizens being able to exercise some basic democratic rights. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/is-a...

This report is truly groundbreaking and a must-read resource. An incredible addition to the TNR work stream. A huge congrats to all those involved!

The transnational repression research agenda keeps growing!

Press freedom under assault globally & the Israeli crackdown is particularly notable. Critical thinking in public space is being challenged .. as Haaretz, is strangled financially +If you don’t hear about the occupation it can be ignored, if Palestinian rights not discussed they don’t exist either.

If you think tech advocacy should be fearless and rooted in justice rather than pandering to billionaires @fightforthefuture.org could really use your donations right now. We’ve already lost major funders because of our principled stands on Palestine and LGBTQ issues www.fightforthefuture.org/donate

It’s now beyond any reasonable doubt that @bsky.app is doing things right! 👇👇👇👇👇👇 China proceeds to block it!

The purchase seems to be in violation of Biden’s EO on spyware, and bodes poorly for what’s to come. Governments should see this technology for what it is: not only a human rights disaster, but a national security nightmare.

Excellent new piece from my colleague @grantbkr.bsky.social about rising restrictions on VPNs - more sophisticated blocking, forced removal from app stores, and new laws criminalizing use. He also lays out what we can do in response. freedomhouse.org/article/anot...

Breaking news from @thegni.bsky.social's Learning Forum happening now in DC. GNI Vice Chair @usamakhilji.bsky.social reports that @bsky.app was blocked earlier today/yesterday in Pakistan. Curious if anyone can confirm & to know if this represents the largest country-level block of Bluesky to date?

Hi new followers 🫶 love seeing the growth of Bluesky! I largely post about tech, human rights, + democracy. Also musing about NYC politics (pro-congestion pricing, ahem) and how perfect my dog is.