#KeepItOn: Tanzania cuts internet access, fails election integrity test

Shutting down the internet during an election is a broadside attack on human rights and democracy. Yet on Wednesday, Tanzanian authorities ignored civil society warnings and plunged the nation into a near-complete internet blackout. As we write, there are reports of escalating state violence and killings amid protests and chaos, and Amnesty International confirms that at least two people have been killed, and many more are feared dead. Join our urgent call now: demand that authorities lift the shutdown immediately, and ask international bodies to step up and apply pressure. Read more via Access Now

Enough is enough

The message is clear: the youth of Cameroon demand a brighter future

Tanzanians are far from the only ones facing violence and oppression during contested elections. There have been multiple reported internet disruptions both during and after the October 12 election in Cameroon, where thousands of young people are flooding the streets to protest the lack of opportunities and change in a country ruled by the same man for 43 years and counting. Here’s why protesters are saying enough is enough, and why the blackouts violate both international and local laws. Read more via Voice of Africa

The 2025 election shutdown watchlist

Internet disruptions are powerful markers of sharply deteriorating human rights situations. And we know they threaten democracy. Yet governments keep imposing them, trotting out the same tired excuses. Our newly updated 2025 election shutdown watchlist shows you which countries the #KeepItOn coalition is monitoring for election shutdowns, and what we’ve seen so far this year. Read more via Access Now

The day the internet turned off

Sometimes an internet shutdown isn’t deliberate, but instead the result of a technical glitch. BCC News digs deep into the mass disruptions on October 20, when over 1,000 companies that provide vital services were impacted by an Amazon Web Services (AWS) server outage. The incident demonstrates just how fragile internet access really is — and how devastating it can be when a digital lifeline is severed. “Think about all the things [the internet] gives you access to: employment, healthcare, education, communication, business and just understanding the world around you,” explains Access Now’s Zach Rosson. Read more via BBC

When the internet watches you

Satellites are leaking the world’s secrets

Even when we’re able to get online, we rely on internet infrastructure that may not be secure — often in the absence of privacy laws or regulations to keep us safe. Case in point: a team of U.S. researchers, equipped with nothing more than a cheap rooftop satellite receiver system, has shown they can intercept unencrypted satellite signals, enabling them to see unprotected messages and data sent via satellite internet, including military data. This raises serious questions about who might be using satellite internet systems for data collection and surveillance — an issue we flagged in our analysis of the human rights risks of satellite internet connectivity. Read more via WIRED

Now we're spooked

The Phantom of the CAPTCHA

Open an email that appears to be from the Ukrainian president’s office, click on a PDF that redirects to a fake reCAPTCHA verification page, and suddenly you’ve downloaded malware that infects your device and threatens your entire organization. That’s the way a newly discovered spearphishing attack works, according to an investigation by SentinelLABS and Digital Security Lab of Ukraine. Targets have included individuals and organizations involved in war relief efforts in Ukraine, such as the International Red Cross, Norwegian Refugee Council, and UNICEF. Learn more about the "PhantomCaptcha” operation. Read more via SentinelLABS

ICYMI: “Russia-linked phishing campaigns ensure civil society and NGOs”

The PhantomCaptcha attack uses the same tactics deployed by the Russia-based hacking group COLDRIVER (STAR BLIZZARD), which Access Now and Citizen Lab investigated last year. Check out the details, including tips on how to protect yourself if you believe you are being targeted. Read more via Access Now

Turning fear into hope

Access Now joins NetHope

We work to keep civil society safe from digital threats like internet shutdowns and phishing attacks through our 24/7 Digital Security Helpline. So we’re excited to announce that we've now joined NetHope, a network through which nonprofits like ours can work with other organizations to tackle shared challenges in the development and humanitarian space using technology. Learn more about the Helpline and NetHope’s mission and goals. Read more via NetHope

Opportunities and other highlights

Are you at Bread&Net this week? So are we!

Here’s a look at where you can find us, as we explore issues critical to the future of human rights, ranging from how tech companies may enable predictive targeting, surveillance, and disinformation-driven violence, to how governments use internet shutdowns as weapons of war (and much more). We hope to connect with you. Read more via Access Now

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