#KeepItOn @10: celebrating a decade of fighting internet shutdowns

Ten years ago, Access Now and 70 other organizations launched the #KeepItOn campaign, uniting efforts to fight internet shutdowns around the world. Today, our movement is stronger than ever; our coalition now comprises over 370 organizations across 106 countries, and together we have strengthened global norms, achieved key legal victories, and developed better tools and strategies to resist shutdowns. As the #KeepItOn community marks a decade of collective action, we look back at how it all started — and the journey still ahead in the fight to #KeepItOn. Read more via Access Now

Dig deeper

What if it happened to you?

What if you suddenly lost your connection to the world? In our latest video, Access Now’s Zach Rosson unpacks what shutdowns mean for people, why governments must stop using connectivity as a tool of control, and how to join the fight against these harmful practices. Watch now via Access Now

Turning off the kill switch

Mozambique court nullifies decree allowing government to shut down internet

In a major victory against internet shutdowns, Mozambique’s Constitutional Council has declared unconstitutional several legal provisions that gave the government powers to monitor communications, collect user data, and block telecommunications in the name of public or state security. The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, a leading rights group in Mozambique, challenged the regulations after the government imposed internet and social media shutdowns during the 2024 post-election protests. Read more via CPJ

#KeepItOn: will Zambia resist hitting the kill switch during elections?

As we write, Zambians are heading to the polls, and the #KeepItOn coalition is closely watching for a network disruption. So far, it appears that Zambia has broken its pattern of imposing rights-harming shutdowns, an encouraging sign for the civil society groups that have been preparing for and warning against any disruptions. While the Ministry of Technology and Science pledged not to impose shutdowns, the risk remains. We continue to urge Zambian officials and internet providers to keep people connected throughout the election period and beyond. Read more via Access Now

Unfinished business

READ: “Toward a digital ceasefire?”

When guns fall silent, digital hostilities often do not. Internet shutdowns, cyberattacks, and other digital tactics continue to harm civilians, disrupt humanitarian efforts, and keep people from accessing vital information. We participated in the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum last year to explore what it would take to establish a “digital ceasefire.” Check out the new summary report from our session, a starting point for mediators and negotiators navigating an increasingly digital battlefield. Read more via Paris Peace Forum

WFP restarts Gaza aid registration app, but cyberattack questions linger

Less than three months after a cyberattack exposed the personal data of around 600,000 households in Gaza, the World Food Programme (WFP) is restarting its self-registration app — while sharing little about the breach, who may be at risk, or what its investigation found. Access Now’s Giulio Coppi told The New Humanitarian that the WFP should not resume data collection unless potential harms are identified and mitigated, a warning that is even more trenchant in the wake of news that the WFP is reportedly extending its contract with data analytics and military tech supplier Palantir despite the grave concerns the partnership has raised. Read more via The New Humanitarian

Spyware meets accountability

Court confirms constitutional protection in R3D’s case: Secretariat of National Defense has failed to publish Pegasus contracts

For years, Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) denied its Pegasus spyware contracts existed — despite evidence of two contracts worth more than 140 million pesos. Now, after four years of litigation by leading rights group R3D, a Mexican court has upheld a transparency order requiring SEDENA to release public versions of the contracts. It’s a major win for spyware transparency and accountability — and for R3D’s yearslong fight to expose how Pegasus was acquired and used in Mexico. Read more via R3D

The work behind the work

How digital attacks are putting women human rights defenders at risk in the Philippines

For women human rights defenders (HRDs), the line between online abuse and offline danger is increasingly hard to draw. That makes the work they do even more challenging. In the Philippines, Foundation for Media Alternatives, an Access Now grantee, is documenting the digital threats women HRDs face, examining how online harassment, doxxing, and other technology-facilitated gender-based violence jeopardize vital efforts to protect human rights — underlining the need for stronger protections and support. Read more via Foundation for Media Alternatives

Digital safety: it’s personal

Vita Activa and the Digital Security Helpline join forces to support mental health and digital safety for activists

A digital attack is never just a technical problem. It causes stress, burnout, and even threats to your physical safety. That’s why Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline and the feminist helpline Vita Activa are collaborating to provide more holistic support — connecting activists, journalists, and human rights defenders to the kind of help they need. Learn more about our collaboration framework and how to reach out for support. Read more via Access Now

Opportunities and other highlights

APPLY: Incident Response Analyst

We’re hiring! Our Digital Security Helpline is looking for a technologist who can help investigate and respond to digital security incidents affecting people and communities at risk, with a preference for candidates in the Philippines, Indonesia, or India. Learn more and apply now. Read more via Access Now

APPLY: Grant Writer

That’s not all: we’re also looking for an exceptional writer and researcher to join Access Now’s development team as a grant writer, to help us secure funding from foundations, governments, and other institutional donors. Learn more and apply today. Read more via Access Now

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