For an eighth consecutive year, Freedom House recorded a global decrease in internet freedoms in 2018, attributing the decline to governments determined to stifle online dissent.
One strategy in
particular—internet shutdowns—has been used to great effect. During elections,
several countries across Africa and Asia have attempted to silence speech online,
especially on social media. And Zimbabwe has shut down the internet a number of
times this year.
What is an internet shutdown?
According to
AccessNow: “An internet shutdown happens when someone—usually a
government—intentionally disrupts the internet or mobile apps to control what
people say or do.”
The Zimbabwean
government cut internet connections across the country to silence protests,
leaving nearly all of its citizens without online access. But they weren’t
entirely successful. When governments shut down broadband and mobile
connections, here’s what to do.
1. Use
circumvention tools like Tor
Tor is a free
and open-source software that will protect you from people who may want to spy
on your browsing habits. When it comes to achieving anonymity on the internet,
it is virtually unbeatable.
2. Get a good
VPN that will protect you from detection
With a VPN you
can secure your access to the internet in its freest and most open form.
Using Tor over
VPN will increase your privacy further. Simply connect to your VPN, then open
the Tor Browser.
3. Stock up on
tools and apps that protect your privacy and security
Start by using
HTTPS Everywhere (which ExpressVPN integrated into our Chrome extension) to
secure your browsing on a particular site. Make sure you’re using a browser
that puts your privacy first—Tor is our firmly recommended favorite.
