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Internet Anti-Censorship

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Internet Anti-Censorship Broadcasting Board of Governors $25.5 M Internet Anti-Censorship 2014 Budget Across our broadcasting regions, governments seek filtering and promote Internet freedom for citizens of to repress or withhold news and information from their countries whose governments censor their access. 2002 citizens. Elements across the BBG work together Radio Free Asia’s Open Technology Fund (OTF) IAC Established to circumvent these actions, in accordance with our supports projects that advance inclusive and safe mission. The BBG’s Internet Anti-Censorship (IAC) access to global communication networks. 2012 Division provides a variety of tools to circumvent OTF Established Enemies of the Internet Internet Anti-Censorship Mobile Mobile Security Study Mobile Android Apps In conjunction with Freedom House, IAC Android Apps Two Android commissioned and Mobile Security Study based projects IRAN published a study on SMS in Cuba are currently being mobile information deployed. One security. The study Internet includes a suite of apps examined the entire Tool Testing for Voice of America’s (VOA) mobile ecosystem Proxy Server Software Persian Service. This project includes in 12 countries and censorship circumvention tools as well as secure Censorship Monitoring established the device-to-device sharing of multimedia news and challenges associated Satellite information. It also provides secure uploading of with creating a secure user-generated content. Radio with Slate environment for mobile users. The challenges are One-Way Web Delivery BBG currently uses Psiphon desktop censorship especially difficult in countries where significant circumvention products for some of its more portions of the telecommunications infrastructure Open Technology Fund sensitive services, a web proxy service and fall under the direct control of the government. desktop client software. A second project has Weibo Detector developed a mobile version of this software and SMS in Cuba Internet Access Study: Burma provides API access and integration of Psiphon’s Government censorship in Cuba is a strong as Martus Mobile circumvention layer into apps deployed by BBG ever, and the IAC Team is exploring multiple ways broadcasters. to bring news and information to the island. In one project, IAC worked with the Office of Cuba Broadcasting to develop an SMS-based social media network targeting cell phone users in Cuba. bbg.gov Broadcasting Board of Governors Internet Open Technology Tool Testing Fund Projects In an effort to promote potential future Weibo Detector program growth, BBG studies and tests The OTF team created Weibo Detector, a Internet circumvention tools beyond those real-time platform to expose censorship currently funded. Evaluation of IAC tools on Sina Weibo. The tool reveals to a is ongoing and an essential component global audience the specific topics of maintaining effectiveness and agility being censored on China’s most popular CHINA in the ongoing cat-and-mouse game of social media platform. The tool also reveals Internet censorship. deleted posts from popular opinion leaders. Proxy Server Software Working with tools like Ultrasurf and Internet Access Study: Psiphon, the BBG’s IAC program facilitates Burma 2012 unfettered access to the Internet to OTF published a study evaluating Burma’s individuals throughout the world whose existing ICT environment in light of recent countries filter or outright censor Internet political and media reforms. the report access. The BBG constantly promotes new provides a technical analysis of Internet Expansion & and safer versions of these tools as firewall access, performance and GSM security, Collaboration circumventing techniques evolve. and information on obtaining access to Real Time Censorship Monitoring smartphones and the mobile Internet. The Circumventing censorship The BBG has deployed both small hardware report identifies a baseline during Burma’s requires a high level of agility. devices and software-based solutions to current transition, helping policymakers, With funding from Congress, hundreds of locations around the globe, investors, and civil society and human rights the IAC program has undergone groups assess the country’s progress in including deployments in some of the most a major expansion to focus on establishing communications infrastructure restrictive Internet environments. In real time, mobile and satellite platforms these devices monitor access to websites and allowing freedom of expression. and web-based services and continually and to expand research and Martus Mobile report into a database that aggregates what development. OTF brought this secure mobile are virtual “Censorship Weather Reports.” human rights reporting tool to The BBG collaborates with This in turn allows news and other Burma to protect sensitive information sources to tailor their delivery other organizations focused on information and shield so as to more effectively make content Internet freedom, including the BURMA the identity of victims or accessible to those populations being witnesses who provide State Department, USAID, and denied access. testimony on human rights DARPA’s SAFER Warfighter Satellite abuses. The tool has been quickly Communications Program. adopted and utilized in Burma IAC is also reaching out to Radio With Slate and across the globe. other groups interested in The IAC team continues to provide satellite Internet freedom such as transmissions with slate and audio services for VOA Chinese Service and Radio Free Google, Freedom House Asia (RFA) and recently launched similar More OTF projects can be found at and the National Endowment services for Radio Farda on multiple opentechfund.org for Democracy’s Center for satellites. International Media Assistance. One-Way Web Content Delivery Due to the increase in funding Utilizing custom-designed software, the for Internet freedom programs BBG has the capability to deliver entire websites via satellite distribution to in the BBG’s FY14 budget, an address populations whose countries have expansion of the IAC and OTF completely shut off access to the Internet. programs will be announced in While the surfing is entirely contained within the coming months. the particular website delivered, it allows populations to receive crucial information even with absolutely no access available. Broadcasting Board of Governors 330 Independence Avenue Washington DC 20237.
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