Censorship, onions, and the tools driving digital freedom

Hi, Friends —

✰ Welcome to [our digital disco]! Today we’re diving into digital censorship.

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Censorship is intensifying as governments around the world tighten their grip on the flow of information.

In recent years, we've witnessed a surge in crackdowns on internet freedom:

• Turkey has been progressively advancing internet restrictions, blocking access to social media platforms amid political unrest.

• In China, the Great Firewall blocks access to major social media platforms and news sites, stifling public discourse & isolating citizens from global conversations.

• Recent protests in Iran have led the government to severely limit internet access to prevent communication and the organization of protests.

• Just last month, Myanmar's military government launched a major campaign to control internet access and suppress dissent, instituting random checks on citizens’ personal devices.

…And around the world, social media titans like X and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) are in constant debate over their role in both preventing harmful content while protecting free speech.

These events not only demonstrate how censorship can be used to maintain power, but highlight the critical importance of tools that ensure free access to information, secure communication, and privacy.

The internet is a battleground for control over information. Governments are increasingly restricting content and monitoring online activities because in the modern era, the ability to control or manipulate information is a fundamental way to influence public opinion, suppress dissent, and maintain power. Proponents argue that digital censorship is necessary for protecting national security, preventing the spread of extremist content, and curbing misinformation. However, these measures often go beyond reasonable limits, infringing on fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and access to information.

Censorship doesn't just impact those living under authoritarian regimes. The principles of a free and open internet affect us all. When any government enacts broad censorship measures, it sets a precedent that others might follow. This underscores the urgency of anti-censorship technologies. They empower individuals to bypass restrictions, access censored content, and communicate securely—ensuring that the internet remains a place for free expression and information sharing.

From VPNs and onion routing, innovators are building and scaling tools empower users to circumvent restrictions. Here’s a look at some of the most effective tools and how they help keep the internet open and free. 

☞ Anti-Censorship Tools

1. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

A service that encrypts your internet connection by creating a secure tunnel between your device and a remote server. VPNs are gaining traction worldwide, particularly in countries with extreme internet censorship. Here’s how it works:

1. Encryption: VPNs use encryption protocols to scramble your data, making it unreadable to anyone who intercepts it. (This is particularly important if you are using public wifi.)

2. Tunneling: Your data is sent through a secure tunnel created by the VPN. This tunnel prevents third parties, such as hackers, from accessing your data.

3. Remote Server: The VPN routes your internet traffic through a remote server, hiding your actual IP address and replacing it with one from the server’s location. By connecting to a VPN server in another location, your IP address appears as if you are browsing from there, anonymizing your online activities.

Examples: NordVPN, Mullvad VPN, ProtonVPN

2. Onion Routing

Onion routing is a technique used to anonymize and secure internet traffic by routing data through multiple layers of encryption and a network of volunteer-operated servers (nodes). Here's how it works:

1. Layered Encryption: Data is encrypted multiple times before it leaves your device. Each layer of encryption corresponds to a different node in the network. This process is similar to peeling an onion, hence the name.

2. Routing Through Nodes: The encrypted data passes through a series of randomly selected nodes. Each node decrypts one layer to reveal the next destination, ensuring that no single node knows the complete path of the data or its origin and destination.

3. Anonymity: By the time the data reaches its final destination, it has been decrypted in stages by several nodes, making it extremely difficult for anyone to trace the data back to its original source.Since the user's IP address is masked by the network of nodes, websites and online services cannot easily determine the user's true location. This allows users to bypass government-imposed content blocks and access the open internet.

Example: Tor // Short tangent—Tor is a pretty incredible feat. As a nonprofit solution, Tor is built on free, open-source software and run by more than 7,000 volunteer-operated relays. It was was developed in the ‘90s at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, and later launched in 2002 as “Tor” (“The Onion Routing project”).

3. Decentralized Platforms

Decentralized platforms help users get around censorship by distributing data globally through a network of independent nodes, ensuring there is no single point of control. Here’s how it works:

1. Distributed Storage: Instead of one place, decentralized platforms spread data across many different locations. It’s much harder for governments to control or block platforms without a single server to target. Moreover, even if some nodes are censored, the information can still be accessed through other nodes.

2. Encryption: These platforms use strong encryption to protect data, ensuring that only authorized users can see it. When data is encrypted, it becomes challenging for governments or Internet Service Providers to monitor or block specific content, as they cannot see the actual information being transmitted. This helps users access or share censored content without detection.

3. Tamper-Proof: Many decentralized platforms boast tamper-proof qualities. This ensures that once information is published on a decentralized platform, it cannot be tampered with or deleted by censors. This permanence allows users to access and share information freely, knowing it will remain intact and accessible.

Examples: Mastodon, diaspora*

☞ Recent Uses of Anti-Censorship Tools

These cases highlight the role that anti-censorship tools play in today’s geopolitical landscape. They have the power to help people in repressive regimes access global information, communicate securely, and maintain digital privacy.

1. Turkey's Social Media Blockade

Turkey has a long history of internet censorship. Its 2022 Disinformation Law—which criminalizes online speech, restricts online privacy, and increases censorship—has been criticized as ‘dystopian’ for further curtailing access to information and deepening online censorship. The timing of the legislation, months before presidential and parliamentary elections, suggested intentions to muzzle online reporting and commentary critical of the government.

With social media platforms being the primary means to organize protests and share real-time updates, the blockade severely hindered efforts. Citizens used VPNs to mask locations and access blocked sites, enabling them to coordinate protests, share information with the global community, and expose government actions. This use of VPNs not only helped maintain the flow of information but also amplified their voices internationally, bringing attention to their cause.

Since then, numerous other laws have been enacted to restrict internet freedoms. In May 2023, the government blocked access to X and other social media platforms amid political unrest. Turkey continues to expand its internet restrictions today, including sites and social media profiles that publish content about Turkey’s military operations, government critiques, and Kurdish news.

2. Iran's Protest Crackdown

Following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022, Iran saw massive protests. In response, the government intensified its internet censorship, blocking WhatsApp and Instagram and significantly restricting internet access. To navigate these restrictions, Iranians increasingly relied on VPNs, despite the government’s efforts to block them.

The use of VPNs and other anti-censorship tools has been crucial for Iranians to access blocked social media platforms like Telegram and Facebook. Reports indicate a 3,000% surge in VPN demand as citizens sought ways to stay connected and access banned social media platforms and messaging apps, essential for organizing protests and communicating securely. Despite the government's attempts to block VPN services, citizens continually adapted by switching between different VPNs, ensuring continuous access to vital communication channels. This persistence played a crucial role in keeping the protest momentum and informing the global community about the situation in Iran.

In February of this year, Iran officially outlawed the use of VPNs. The ban has raised concerns among human rights organizations and technology experts about increased surveillance and the potential for further restrictions on digital freedom.

3. Russia's Censorship Measures

In the wake of the Ukraine conflict, Russia has severely tightened its grip on the internet, banning platforms like Facebook and Instagram. To circumvent these restrictions, some Russians have turned to tools like Tor and Psiphon. These technologies have allowed users to access blocked websites and communicate securely, maintaining a flow of information despite government censorship. Bypassing government filters can help populations stay informed about the realities of the war, which are often distorted by state-controlled media.

The U.S. has reportedly funded three VPN companies—nthLink, Psiphon, and Lantern—to help Russians bypass internet censorship and access Western media amid the Ukraine conflict. This funding effort, which has surged since February 2022, supports a growing number of Russian users seeking to evade government controls and access uncensored news. The VPNs are promoted through U.S. government-backed platforms like Voice of America, significantly boosting their user base.

Snacktime

📓 Reading: Eric Johnson’s The Elements of Choice. For those who know me personally, you know how much I obsess over decision-making. I like Johnson’s academic-yet-approachable exploration of choice architecture—the specific presentation of different options—and its influence on the choices we make, whether navigating a website or making critical life decisions.

♬ Listening to: Jeff Buckley’s Mama, You Been on My Mind.

✿ As always — any and all feedback is welcome! You can share it here.