{"id":8587,"date":"2025-10-02T16:20:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T20:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cntiwpedev.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=8587"},"modified":"2026-05-19T17:35:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T21:35:26","slug":"protecting-an-open-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnti.org\/issue-primers\/protecting-an-open-internet\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting an Open Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-delta-font-size\" id=\"CNTIsAssessment\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\">CNTI&#8217;s Assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An open internet is critical to functioning, free societies. As governments around the world turn their attention to issues of internet governance \u2014 including efforts to tackle disinformation and protect user data \u2014 the risk of fragmented internet experiences increases. Some policies deliberately create fragmentation, and some policies result in fragmentation as an unintended consequence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Policy deliberation: <\/strong>It is important that policy frameworks address the distinctions among different forms of fragmentation, the (limited) scenarios in which content fragmentation is justified and how to minimize the impact of fragmentation. To discourage fragmentation, internet regulation can focus on a number of intermediate goals, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Distributing power outside of governments and governmental organizations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discouraging corporate consolidation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promoting individual rights, especially regarding encrypted and personal data<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promoting open and transparent standards that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niemanlab.org\/2025\/08\/the-next-internet-for-news-publishers-gather-to-discuss-protocols-over-platforms\/\">don\u2019t lock people or publishers into specific platforms<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regulations should also account for the global nature of the internet, particularly when it comes to the rights of journalists \u2014 and the public \u2014 to communicate and share information within and across borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Journalistic concerns: <\/strong>Internet blocks and shutdowns make it challenging for news providers to both report and distribute their work. They also limit the public\u2019s ability to access a range of information above and beyond what their government selects. An open internet is particularly important for people to access online-only and online-first media. In some cases, independent media can help raise awareness about internet censorship and technical issues that threaten an open internet.&nbsp;<br><strong>Governance: <\/strong>Tech stakeholders can help protect a free and open internet by incorporating encryption into their products by default, participating in multistakeholder governance processes and supporting interoperable standards. Interoperability means that devices, platforms and applications made by different companies can work together, which in turn gives end-users more choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-delta-font-size\" id=\"TheIssue\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\">The Issue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In its earliest days, the rise of the global internet signaled a potential for free and open societies that would transcend borders, connect people through digital civic spaces and provide a global repository of information. The internet, as a public good, can provide access to reliable and independent news as well as exposure to diverse sources and perspectives. But amid new technologies, changing geopolitical contexts and threats of <a href=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/article\/journalists-online-abuse\/\">online abuse<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/article\/addressing-disinformation\/\">disinformation<\/a>, policymakers around the world are rethinking updates to internet governance models.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the core of these discussions is <em>who controls <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/issues\/internet-governance\/who-runs-the-internet\/\"><em>how the global internet functions<\/em><\/a>. Often, this control is negotiated between governments and technology companies that preside over online spaces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>These political, commercial and technological pressures risk <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/resources\/internet-fragmentation\/\"><strong>fragmenting<\/strong><\/a><strong> the internet into a collection of different networks and user experiences. Two users may encounter wholly different internet experiences based on their location and\/or which corporation connects them to the internet. (This process is also referred to as \u201csplintering\u201d or \u201cbalkanization\u201d and the result is sometimes referred to as \u201cthe splinternet\u201d). In fact, internet fragmentation is already occurring in some places. While practices that result in internet fragmentation \u2014 via rhetoric, technological developments and legislation \u2014 are often enacted by <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cyber.fsi.stanford.edu\/publication\/getting-ahead-digital-repression-authoritarian-innovation-and-democratic-response\"><strong>autocratic regimes<\/strong><\/a><strong>, they are also increasingly central to internet policy debates in <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/08\/12\/why-the-uk-age-verification-law-has-led-to-backlash.html\"><strong>democratic<\/strong><\/a><strong> societies.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/unnamed-4-1024x481.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/unnamed-4-1024x481.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/unnamed-4-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/unnamed-4-768x361.png 768w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/unnamed-4.png 1306w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Comparison of open and splinternet experiences. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/blog\/2022\/03\/what-is-the-splinternet-and-why-you-should-be-paying-attention\/\">Internet Society<\/a><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regulations intended to restrict and\/or control online environments can involve several tactics, such as content takedowns, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/report\/2025\/07\/30\/disrupted-throttled-and-blocked\/state-censorship-control-and-increasing-isolation\">blocked<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/dn.org\/dns-redirection-a-closer-look-at-censorship-by-redirection\/\">rerouted<\/a> websites or platforms, government-ordered network <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eff.org\/deeplinks\/2025\/06\/connectivity-lifeline-not-luxury-telecom-blackouts-gaza-threaten-lives-and-digital\">disruptions<\/a> and versions of the internet entirely closed off from outside providers or services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In weighing the challenges of this issue, it is helpful to distinguish between two types of internet regulation that result in fragmentation:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Those where internet fragmentation is <em>intentionally<\/em> sought out, often to assert state control over data and digital assets or to cut off public access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/feb\/15\/google-helped-facilitate-russia-china-censorship-requests\">independent<\/a> information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Those where internet fragmentation is an <em>unanticipated<\/em> byproduct of governments\u2019 (or corporations\u2019) attempts to prevent the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techpolicy.press\/eu-disinformation-code-takes-effect-amid-censorship-claims-and-trade-tensions\/\">spread of disinformation<\/a>, address <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eff.org\/deeplinks\/2025\/04\/congress-takes-another-step-toward-enabling-broad-internet-censorship\">legitimate online harms<\/a> and\/or protect residents\u2019 data from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/article\/tiktok-ban.html\">foreign<\/a> interference.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are crucial differences between these two approaches, but both introduce risks if<em> they do not include safeguards that protect both user rights and a free flow of global information<\/em>. The preservation of an open internet is especially <a href=\"https:\/\/akademie.dw.com\/en\/out-of-the-dark-new-study-on-internet-shutdowns-in-south-and-southeast-asia\/a-73069489\">critical<\/a> for the global protection of an independent, competitive news media. Journalists depend on access to open digital communication channels to both document and distribute news, particularly when platforms have been infiltrated or blocked by the state. A number of organizations that analyze internet freedom have found that <a href=\"https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/report\/freedom-net\/2024\/struggle-trust-online\">online censorship and manipulation<\/a> are growing worldwide. These are powerful threats to press freedom and safety as well as to public access to information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As governments consider different approaches to internet regulation, they should consider that some policy responses risk facilitating a fragmented internet while others can protect societies from it. The challenge is to ensure they protect the public\u2019s ability to use the internet to create, share and access information as well as journalists\u2019 ability to report and distribute it \u2014 both within and across borders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At its most harmful, internet fragmentation enshrines government and\/or corporate power in ways that erode human rights, including those of free expression and privacy. Policymakers must pay greater attention to these effects \u2014 even when unintended \u2014 to protect and promote an open internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-delta-font-size\" id=\"WhatMakesItComplex\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\">What Makes It Complex<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-bottom:0px\"><strong>I.<\/strong> <strong>Internet fragmentation does not have a singular definition. As a result, it is hard to identify and address risks with comprehensive policy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In academic and policy circles, the concept of internet fragmentation is broad and often contested. However, experts frequently cite three dimensions of <a href=\"https:\/\/intgovforum.org\/en\/filedepot_download\/256\/28579\">fragmentation<\/a>:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Technical <\/em>fragmentation, where systems may be completely disconnected from the global internet (e.g., China\u2019s Great Firewall), or there may be other challenges to interoperability, such as websites that only render correctly on certain hardware. (For example, some websites designed for larger screens are very difficult to use on mobile phones \u2014 the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/2014\/4\/14\/11625620\/how-mobile-first-became-mobile-only-in-the-emerging-world\">primary internet device<\/a> in most of the world.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Content <\/em>or <em>user experience <\/em>fragmentation, where individuals have different online experiences. In these cases, users may have technical connectivity, but face restrictions in what they can access (e.g., government-approved sources in a Google search or a social media feed, Netflix\u2019s content filtered by geographic controls). It is also important to note that many differences of this type are beneficial, such as language and content localization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Political or governance<\/em> fragmentation, where decisions are made without consensus or where national governments introduce regulations that conflict with existing processes and policies. For example, Ukraine requested in 2022 that Russian domains be disconnected from the internet as a form of sanctions, although this request was <a href=\"https:\/\/dnsrf.org\/blog\/reflecting-on-the-internet-community-ukraine-invasion\/index.html\">ultimately denied<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-bottom:0px\">Each of these types of internet fragmentation introduces different risks, requiring different approaches to address them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Information source:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/intgovforum.org\/en\/content\/igf-2022-summary-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IGF\u2019s Policy Network on Internet Fragmentation&nbsp;<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>II<\/strong>. <strong>Bans on specific digital platforms have become a common response to concerns about online safety and disinformation, but they increase the risk of internet fragmentation and, some argue, threaten free expression.<\/strong><br>A growing list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.context.news\/big-tech\/us-tiktok-ban-which-other-countries-have-banned-the-app\">governments<\/a> around the world have <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/tiktok-bytedance-ban-china-india-376f32d78861e14e65ec4bc78e808a0d\">taken <\/a>\u2014 or considered taking \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/tiktok-bytedance-ban-china-india-376f32d78861e14e65ec4bc78e808a0d\">action<\/a> against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/article\/tiktok-ban.html\">TikTok<\/a> and its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance. These bans respond to ongoing debates around two key issues: the potential national security risks of allowing the Chinese government to access sensitive user data and\/or distribute disinformation, and rising concern about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c89vjj0lxx9o\">children\u2019s online safety<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techpolicy.press\/how-the-kids-online-safety-act-has-evolved-as-negotiations-ensue\/\">digital platforms<\/a>. Autocratic governments have also weaponized bans of specific platforms, and some argue that these bans inhibit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/news\/national-security\/banning-tiktok-is-unconstitutional-the-supreme-court-must-step-in\">fundamental rights<\/a> to access and distribute information in democratic societies. Enforcing bans on specific platforms could also require <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techpolicy.press\/nevadas-attack-on-endtoend-encryption-is-an-attack-on-online-safety\/\">technical surveillance<\/a> that could put privacy and civil liberties at risk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some argue that there are times when platform bans are justified. For instance, in <a href=\"http:\/\/bloqueios.info\/en\/timeline\/\">Brazil<\/a>, Telegram and X have been blocked temporarily due to failures to comply with lawful requests from the Brazilian Supreme Court.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>III. There is legitimate disagreement about the bounds of free speech, even among democratic societies. <br><\/strong>There has long been debate over whether and to what extent freedom of expression should include harmful forms of speech like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/hate-speech\/understanding-hate-speech\/hate-speech-versus-freedom-of-speech\">hate speech<\/a> and disinformation. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/why-hate-speech-is-punishable-by-law-in-germany\/a-71700225\">Germany<\/a> places much stricter limits on free speech than the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefire.org\/research-learn\/unprotected-speech-synopsis\">United States<\/a>. More recently, these disagreements have come to the forefront in efforts to regulate online platforms, and are at the root of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/04\/04\/world\/europe\/european-union-free-speech-x-facebook-elon-musk.html\">tensions<\/a> between the U.S. and the EU. Inconsistent definitions of acceptable speech create more opportunities for fragmentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IV.<\/strong> <strong>Internet fragmentation presents new challenges for corporations asked to comply with demands that would permit governments\u2019 abuse of power.<\/strong><br>At times, governments may demand (including through legislative policy) that platforms provide private data and information on their users or take down content that is otherwise protected by free speech laws in other jurisdictions. If corporations adhere to these demands, they risk enabling government abuse. If they do not, they risk breaking the law, which may lead to fines or bans. These situations have arisen in <a href=\"https:\/\/restofworld.org\/2024\/malaysia-internet-censorship-creators\/\">Malaysia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/carnegieendowment.org\/research\/2024\/07\/india-thailand-social-media-moderation?lang=en\">India<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/bloqueios.info\/en\/timeline\/\">Brazil<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/emmawoollacott\/2025\/02\/27\/us-govt-demands-millions-of-google-apple-and-meta-user-accounts\/\">United States<\/a> which encompass many different sociopolitical contexts, including democratic societies. It is crucial to acknowledge that this issue is multifaceted, and corporations often choose specific jurisdictions and legal frameworks for market and product reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>V. Protecting an open internet is not always possible in autocratic societies, but actions taken elsewhere still impact people living under these autocratic regimes.<\/strong><br>Citizens, advocacy groups and watchdog organizations often have limited power to stop autocratic action. However, open and globally focused policy discussions raise awareness and, as such, offer a means of pushing back against abuses of power and creating greater accountability. Further, democratic governments can impact people in authoritarian regimes by taking internet governance actions \u2014 for better or for worse. For example, while the Iranian regime\u2019s censorship and infrastructure controls form the core of internet restriction, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetgovernance.org\/2024\/10\/22\/caught-in-the-crossfire-the-impact-of-sanctions-on-iranian-internet-users\/\">U.S. sanctions exacerbate the problem<\/a> by further limiting ordinary users\u2019 access to global platforms and services. On the other hand, the <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/the-diplomatic-pouch\/analysis-digital-authoritarianism-vs-f6ab4deb0910\">EU\u2019s Global Gateway<\/a> promotes rights-based infrastructure in emerging economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>VI. Consolidation of infrastructure among a few large companies may counterbalance state power \u2014 but it increases other risks.<br><\/strong>Every layer of the internet has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ietf.org\/archive\/id\/draft-mcfadden-cnsldtn-effects-03.html\">become consolidated<\/a> among a few very large companies. There are benefits to this consolidation, notably for users\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/14614448251336438\">security and privacy<\/a> from the state. However, consolidation can cause problems for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/blog\/2025\/08\/what-is-internet-resilience\/\">internet resilience<\/a>: when these large companies face <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/stories\/2023\/10\/internet-cyber-attack-record\/\">attacks<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/06\/12\/google-cloud-outage-brings-down-a-lot-of-the-internet\/\">technical problems<\/a>, the impact is much broader. Moreover, consolidation increases the reach of corporations, worsening the potential impact of <a href=\"https:\/\/freedom.press\/the-classifieds\/snowden-surveillance-revelations-take-on-added-urgency-12-years-later\/\">state abuse<\/a> by proxy and corporate-driven fragmentation. Many observers have raised major concerns about corporations\u2019 power over both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cjr.org\/tow_center_reports\/corporate-control-of-public-information.php\">public<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumerreports.org\/electronics\/privacy\/each-facebook-user-is-monitored-by-thousands-of-companies-a5824207467\/\">private<\/a> information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>VII. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/blog\/2024\/04\/when-free-comes-with-strings-attached\/\"><strong>Zero-rating<\/strong><\/a><strong> programs can prevent people from accessing the complete, open internet.<\/strong><br>Technology companies, including mobile carriers and app providers, have implemented \u201czero rating\u201d programs, which provide select content or services without data charges. These programs are offered to attract customers and increase internet access, especially in less wealthy countries, but they can also fragment the internet landscape. By granting free access to certain sources of content but charging for others, these programs can become the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2017\/jul\/27\/facebook-free-basics-developing-markets\">arbiters of what content is accessible<\/a>, creating a tiered internet ecosystem as they promote broader adoption. (For example, Meta offers <a href=\"https:\/\/restofworld.org\/2021\/facebook-connectivity-discover\/\">free internet access<\/a> to millions of people who would not otherwise have access \u2014 but Meta limits what they can access.)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>VIII.<\/strong> <strong>The contemporary internet is still not a truly <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/georgetownsecuritystudiesreview.org\/2024\/10\/30\/digital-inclusion-and-the-global-tech-divide-how-the-digital-revolution-is-leaving-some-of-us-in-the-digital-dark-ages\/\"><strong>universal<\/strong><\/a><strong> or open network; technical and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unesco.org\/en\/articles\/internet-access-unesco-and-icann-join-forces-improve-linguistic-diversity-online\"><strong>linguistic<\/strong><\/a><strong> access vary considerably around the world.<\/strong><br>Debates around public access to information and international connectivity standards must consider existing barriers to an open, global internet. According to the World Economic Forum, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/stories\/2024\/09\/2-5-billion-people-lack-internet-access-how-connectivity-can-unlock-their-potential\/\">2.5 billion<\/a> people still lacked internet access as of September 2024. There are also large <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/itu-d\/reports\/statistics\/2024\/11\/10\/ff24-the-gender-digital-divide\/\">gender gaps<\/a> in internet access in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Even among those who do have access, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/global-index\">speeds vary<\/a> dramatically around the world. And access gaps are not just technical: 85% of internet content is in <a href=\"https:\/\/w3techs.com\/technologies\/overview\/content_language\">just 10<\/a> of the more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ethnologue.com\/insights\/how-many-languages\/\">7,000 languages<\/a> currently spoken. Even among the dominant languages, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20250812-how-language-is-hiding-the-real-internet-from-you\">universe of information<\/a> available online differs from one language to the next. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codi.global\/\">New efforts<\/a> are just beginning to address this challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IX. Policymakers may not have access to nuanced technical <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/congress-blog\/4768419-congressional-expertise-post-chevron\/\"><strong>expertise<\/strong><\/a><strong> in how the internet works, which can make it harder to foresee unintended consequences. <br><\/strong>The internet is complex, and policy development requires <a href=\"https:\/\/fas.org\/publication\/creating-a-science-and-technology-hub-in-congress\/\">evidence-based technical discussions<\/a> in order to be effectively addressed, especially when it comes to fragmentation. Understanding the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.khanacademy.org\/computing\/computers-and-internet\/xcae6f4a7ff015e7d:the-internet\/xcae6f4a7ff015e7d:the-internet-protocol-suite\/a\/the-internet-protocols\">layers of the internet stack<\/a> is vital to identifying technical fragmentation or changes in infrastructure that prevent systems from interoperating and the internet from functioning consistently at all endpoints. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5128367\">additional forms of expertise<\/a> are also important \u2014 such as expertise in privacy, bias and disparate effects. That\u2019s because fragmentation is not necessarily only technical in origin. Fragmentation can also be rooted in governmental policies or corporate practices that prevent use of the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-delta-font-size\" id=\"StateOfResearch\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\">State of Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To date, much of the work on internet governance has centered on \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/cyber.fsi.stanford.edu\/publication\/getting-ahead-digital-repression-authoritarian-innovation-and-democratic-response\">digital authoritarianism<\/a>\u201d (with a particular focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/02681102.2024.2425352#d1e201\">China and Russia<\/a>), as well as some research examining the <a href=\"https:\/\/openfuture.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/240320_Finding_the_path_to_a_more_open_internet.pdf\">European Union&#8217;s<\/a> digital sovereignty agenda. We are just now starting to see a growing segment of research focused more broadly on assessing both the extent of internet fragmentation and the mechanisms that contribute to it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, most of the research either provides informative case studies or focuses narrowly on the policy context. As a result, there is little systematic research on the scope and impact of shifts in internet governance. Moreover, a <a href=\"https:\/\/itif.org\/publications\/2020\/06\/08\/freedom-not-free-license-freedom-houses-flawed-measurement-internet\/\">lack of consensus<\/a> about what internet \u2018freedom\u2019 and \u2018censorship\u2019 entail also means that researchers disagree about appropriate interventions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As platform bans, data localization and age verification become more commonly discussed approaches to addressing online safety and disinformation, research analyzing the scope and impact of these policy debates will be particularly useful. This includes how particular policy language is adopted in one context and readopted elsewhere over time and on a global scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\">Notable Studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:8px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><\/summary>\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container--slides-mobile-1 wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container--slides-tablet-1 wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container--slides-desktop-1 swiper wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container--pagination-style-bullets\" data-wp-interactive=\"{ &quot;namespace&quot;: &quot;gridibleCarousel&quot; }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;swiperConfig&quot;:{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:1,&quot;spaceBetween&quot;:32,&quot;autoHeight&quot;:true,&quot;loop&quot;:false,&quot;autoplay&quot;:false,&quot;allowTouchMove&quot;:true,&quot;speed&quot;:300,&quot;freeMode&quot;:false,&quot;navigation&quot;:{&quot;enabled&quot;:false,&quot;nextEl&quot;:&quot;.swiper-button-next&quot;,&quot;prevEl&quot;:&quot;.swiper-button-prev&quot;},&quot;pagination&quot;:{&quot;enabled&quot;:true,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;el&quot;:&quot;.swiper-pagination&quot;,&quot;clickable&quot;:true},&quot;breakpoints&quot;:{&quot;0&quot;:{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:1},&quot;600&quot;:{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:&quot;1&quot;},&quot;1080&quot;:{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}}}}\"><ul class=\"swiper-wrapper is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-wrap:nowrap\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-d62a737c2efcce7a5671a59f047af59e\" id=\"h-internet-fragmentation-s-outward-turn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-10\/FOTN2022Digital.pdf\"><a href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6214278\"><strong>Internet Fragmentation\u2019s Outward Turn<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-scale-up has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-golf-font-size wp-elements-a1059c22bcebc46a97e82997356f8acb wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000000bf;margin-bottom:0px\">Mailyn Fidler &#8211; Harvard National Security Journal (2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-shade-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-shade-3-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-7c082934e568d3346808a7f891c4bed0 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: While many scholars have analyzed internet fragmentation as primarily focused on domestic politics, this analysis pivots to examine outward-facing developments. It lays out a recent shift from protectionism to fragmentation through such actions as export controls, sabotaging undersea cables, selective investment in infrastructure and fragmented legal regulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-306e3130d495721e56de4b174f8d3c6c wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CNTI\u2019s takeaway: <\/strong>As internet fragmentation \u201cis now deployed to subvert the interests of other states,\u201d the governance questions become more complex. Beyond limiting their own population\u2019s access, \u201coutward-facing\u201d fragmentation may risk escalating armed conflict<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-d71b8b9138341c9a610458b2c5866358 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-f6f8f04f922ac463fd77c03bfdee0ab4\" id=\"h-freedom-on-the-net-2025-the-struggle-for-trust-online\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/thinktank\/en\/document\/EPRS_STU(2022)729530\"><a href=\"https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-11\/Freedom_on_the_Net_2025_Digital.pdf\"><strong>Freedom on the Net 2025: The Struggle for Trust Online<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-scale-up has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-golf-font-size wp-elements-d8d9a3c53a25019f00b1288f3b992f4d wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000000bf;margin-bottom:0px\">Freedom House (2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-shade-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-shade-3-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-e9d024fe3f05fb389ab9dea1607d7b8c wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: Freedom House\u2019s annual report highlights the growth of censorship and content manipulation in countries with elections, as well as increases in blocking specific sites or entire platforms. They also identify four traits of effective responses: they must be transparent in their decision-making, engage meaningfully with civil society, implement measures with independence and adhere to human rights agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-67773d59ffd8b3143f6955e0c03cb43e wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CNTI\u2019s takeaway<\/strong>: The report advocates for a whole-of-society approach to issues like freedom of expression, information integrity and surveillance rather than purely technical solutions. That includes coordination between governments, companies and civil society stakeholders, which is core to CNTI\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-d71b8b9138341c9a610458b2c5866358 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-3e9252a9d9aff7c2791d177a89cf904e\" id=\"h-the-road-to-wsis-20-key-country-perspectives-in-the-twenty-year-review-of-the-world-summit-on-the-information-society\"><a href=\"https:\/\/heinonline.org\/HOL\/Page?handle=hein.journals\/wasglo21&amp;div=19&amp;g_sent=1&amp;casa_token=DfHOafTM_AQAAAAA:YdrpO6XKWAJHsBuPFlDt97t53A4fiU3ccVtuFkEL2hkJnpTkZCn8M_7My2ByCMI56nQGCobm&amp;collection=journals\"><a href=\"https:\/\/globalnetworkinitiative.org\/new-report-the-road-to-wsis20-key-country-perspectives-in-the-twenty-year-review-of-the-world-summit-on-the-information-society\/\"><strong>The Road to WSIS+20: Key Country Perspectives in the Twenty-Year Review of the World Summit on the Information Society<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-scale-up has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-golf-font-size wp-elements-2f9e599a7c98fa208585d02fdba39fe6 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000000bf;margin-bottom:0px\">Global Partners Digital &amp; Global Network Initiative&nbsp;(2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-shade-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-shade-3-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-45bb3018f02eb35427d8425ea6869641 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: This report synthesizes the priorities of eight highly influential governments and nine additional Global Majority countries to inform the WSIS+20 process. For each government, the report highlights their position on key issues (development, human rights, internet governance, review modalities, and WSIS and the Global Digital Compact), key stakeholders, underlying motivations and opportunities for civil society engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-74395fc9e7e79e459dfa1723eb715c90 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CNTI\u2019s takeaway<\/strong>: Providing viewpoints from a broad range of countries can help participants understand the likely points of agreement and conflict and make the governance process run more smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-d71b8b9138341c9a610458b2c5866358 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-0d96bd3b0f2ea6207364ebec1eac1293\" id=\"h-digital-democracy-in-a-divided-global-landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pen.org\/report\/splintered-speech-digital-sovereignty-and-the-future-of-the-internet\/?ref=american-purpose\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carnegieendowment.org\/research\/2025\/05\/digital-democracy-in-a-divided-global-landscape?lang=en\"><strong>Digital Democracy in a Divided Global Landscape<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-scale-up has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-golf-font-size wp-elements-17128a7f641df871810afbe756b75612 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000000bf;margin-bottom:0px\">Steve Feldstein (ed.) &#8211; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-shade-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-shade-3-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-6f5b84ddcdbcec7e0dc574fbaa4288e5 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: This series of essays interrogates the global shift from digital solidarity to digital sovereignty, connecting the dots between infrastructure, geopolitics and regulation. Topics range from what Starlink\u2019s dominance in Africa means for the people who rely on it to efforts to develop a global lexicon for information manipulation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-f927865f9bf1ac9fcca4e734fa34b2f1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CNTI\u2019s takeaway<\/strong>: These essays remind scholars and policymakers that legal, technical, economic and geopolitical factors all work in tandem and must be considered holistically rather than in isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-d71b8b9138341c9a610458b2c5866358 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-506296ec928b55e7cf97738760198838\" id=\"h-connect-first-then-suppress-chinese-vs-western-communication-development-projects-and-internet-freedom\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/23738871.2020.1805482\"><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s12116-025-09471-5\"><strong>Connect First, then Suppress: Chinese vs. Western Communication Development Projects and Internet Freedom<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-scale-up has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-golf-font-size wp-elements-630fe2df87083df0bfcc2c60031851a2 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000000bf;margin-bottom:0px\">Yujeong Yang, Lucie Lu, Miles Williams &amp; Xinle Jia &#8211; Studies in Comparative International Development&nbsp;(2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-shade-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-shade-3-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-05b3603443c65894f389c03b4a062959 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: This study finds that Chinese aid for communication development is negatively associated with internet freedom in recipient countries, while comparable aid from the U.S. and the World Bank is not. China is also outspending the U.S. and World Bank in this area by more than sixteen-to-one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-23c517afc82d46406734077b89b0fd9e wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CNTI\u2019s takeaway<\/strong>: This article illustrates how selective investment can impact internet freedom indirectly in a broad swath of countries. In particular, even aid that supports increased internet connectivity may contribute to fragmentation rather than access to an open internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-d71b8b9138341c9a610458b2c5866358 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-764a76750104b5c56896b4f031f0ec85\" id=\"h-tunnel-vision-anti-censorship-tools-end-to-end-encryption-and-the-fight-for-a-free-and-open-internet\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cigionline.org\/static\/documents\/gcig_final_report_-_with_cover.pdf\"><a href=\"https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/report\/special-report\/2025\/tunnel-vision-anti-censorship-tools-end-end-encryption-and-fight-free\"><strong>Tunnel Vision: Anti-censorship Tools, End-to-End Encryption\u202fand the Fight for a Free and Open Internet<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-scale-up has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-golf-font-size wp-elements-72262c52e550124c9f1210cadfa6209a wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#000000bf;margin-bottom:0px\">Grant Baker, Nils Berglund, Allie Funk, Patryk Pawlak &amp; Kian Vesteinsson &#8211; Freedom House (2025)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-shade-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-shade-3-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-4e51228e02a143b02f5d809c27cac7d6 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: Anti-censorship tools like virtual private networks (VPNS) and end-to-end encryption are necessary for a free and open internet, and using them is generally considered best practice. However, many governments are either restricting access to these tools or undermining them with technical requirements like backdoors. This report finds that restrictions are \u201ca core authoritarian tactic of information control\u201d that calls for additional innovation in response.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-e635c07af9df69c33dd7dd348a1d205f wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CNTI\u2019s takeaway<\/strong>: Tools that protect privacy are important for all internet users, even though these tools can also be used by bad actors. It is important for policymakers and civil society groups to find solutions to internet crime that do not undermine an open internet by blocking or weakening anti-censorship tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-d71b8b9138341c9a610458b2c5866358 wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide has-shade-4-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<section class=\"wp-block-gridible-container alignfull is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family\" id=\"h-quic-or-the-battle-that-never-was-a-case-of-infrastructuring-control-over-internet-traffic\"><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/14614448251336438\"><strong>QUIC, or the battle that never was: A case of infrastructuring control over Internet traffic<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-border-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-golf-font-size wp-elements-b6dc1e5b11d7bfc7683b116d07aace34 wp-block-paragraph\">Clement Perarnaud &amp; Francesca Musiani &#8211; New Media &amp; Society (2025)<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: This piece outlines the standardization and widespread deployment of a new internet protocol developed by Google. The case study highlights controversies in its adoption and the ultimate outcomes. While this new protocol makes it harder for states and national network operators to analyze traffic, there are also concerns about how it favors consolidation among a few large corporations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CNTI\u2019s takeaway<\/strong>: This case study illustrates how technical standards can shift power balances in internet governance in ways that may not be immediately obvious. It serves as a reminder to all stakeholders that technical aspects of infrastructure are inextricable from governance processes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide has-shade-4-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<section class=\"wp-block-gridible-container alignfull has-shade-4-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family\" id=\"h-from-multistakeholderism-to-digital-sovereignty-toward-a-new-discursive-order-in-internet-governance\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;margin-right:0;margin-left:0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/poi3.426\"><strong>From multistakeholderism to digital sovereignty: Toward a new discursive order in internet governance?<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-border-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-golf-font-size wp-elements-c0c8a5016c6f65434eb5f60cdc6c2c29 wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;Julia Pohle &amp; Mauro Santaniello &#8211; Policy &amp; Internet (2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-right:0;margin-left:0\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>: This article outlines two competing visions of internet governance. \u201cMultistakeholderism\u201d prioritizes technical self-regulation and internationalism, while increasingly popular \u201cdigital sovereignty\u201d emphasizes countries\u2019 ability to implement their own norms and values around domestic internet use.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CNTI\u2019s takeaway<\/strong>: This piece also emphasizes geopolitical trends that may impact the future of internet governance. In particular, as more aspects of the internet become associated with national security, governments will likely take on a more active role \u2014 leading to a narrower scope for multistakeholder governance and thus to further fragmentation.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-delta-font-size\" id=\"StateOfLegislation\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\">State of Legislation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The internet is now a central locus of global policymaking as governments increasingly debate how to regulate digital spaces within (and sometimes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/03\/03\/1229402063\/gaza-communications-cell-phone-internet-service-blackouts-paltel\">outside<\/a>) their own borders. Internet governance includes a broad range of stakeholders and mechanisms including national and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/digital-emerging-technologies\/global-digital-compact\">international<\/a> policy as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/policyreview.info\/articles\/analysis\/infrastructural-power-state-strategies\">infrastructures<\/a>, technical standards and company policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent years, there has been a shift towards \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/poi3.426\">digital sovereignty<\/a>,\u201d or governmental capacity to control or regulate residents\u2019 internet content and their country\u2019s flow of data through its technological infrastructures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some cases, legislation attempts to protect societies from a fragmented internet. In others, legislation risks encouraging fragmentation either intentionally or unintentionally. Such legislation includes direct attempts to develop a closed national <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rferl.org\/a\/russia-china-internet-censorship-collaboration\/32350263.html\">intranet<\/a>, interventions to block access to specific platforms or sources of news and information, and broader online governance laws that may introduce indirect consequences for free expression and an open internet. For example, online safety regulations in the <a href=\"https:\/\/cdt.org\/insights\/cdt-europe-responds-to-the-draft-guidelines-on-the-online-protection-of-minors\/\">European Union<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/online-safety-act-explainer\/online-safety-act-explainer\">United Kingdom<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/7288539\/kids-online-safety-act-status-what-to-know\/\">United States<\/a> may promote protections for residents while risking <em>user experience<\/em> fragmentation by enhancing controls over what and where content is shown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those developing legislation to protect an open internet should consult <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cigionline.org\/publications\/a-difficult-balance-privacy-national-security-and-the-free-flow-of-data\/\">resources<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/report\/freedom-net\/2024\/struggle-trust-online\/policy-recommendations\">recommendations<\/a> provided by global internet experts. Recommendations include limiting governments\u2019 ability to collect or access user data, protecting encryption and VPN access, creating interoperable privacy and governance regimes, and maintaining access to services and platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\"><strong>Notable Legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container--slides-mobile-1 wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container--slides-tablet-2 wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container--slides-desktop-2 swiper wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container--pagination-style-bullets has-equal-height-slides\" data-wp-interactive=\"{ &quot;namespace&quot;: &quot;gridibleCarousel&quot; }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;swiperConfig&quot;:{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:1,&quot;spaceBetween&quot;:32,&quot;autoHeight&quot;:true,&quot;loop&quot;:false,&quot;autoplay&quot;:false,&quot;allowTouchMove&quot;:true,&quot;speed&quot;:300,&quot;freeMode&quot;:false,&quot;navigation&quot;:{&quot;enabled&quot;:false,&quot;nextEl&quot;:&quot;.swiper-button-next&quot;,&quot;prevEl&quot;:&quot;.swiper-button-prev&quot;},&quot;pagination&quot;:{&quot;enabled&quot;:true,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;el&quot;:&quot;.swiper-pagination&quot;,&quot;clickable&quot;:true},&quot;breakpoints&quot;:{&quot;0&quot;:{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:1},&quot;600&quot;:{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:&quot;2&quot;},&quot;1080&quot;:{&quot;slidesPerView&quot;:&quot;2&quot;}}}}\"><ul class=\"swiper-wrapper is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-wrap:nowrap\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-germany-transp-229077-Photoroom.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11356\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-germany-transp-229077-Photoroom.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-germany-transp-229077-Photoroom-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-germany-transp-229077-Photoroom-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-germany-transp-229077-Photoroom-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-a67dfc271f2b717a910d85c31d63721e\" id=\"h-germany\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Germany<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-190b61ae7d92cea33238bd1704032801 wp-block-paragraph\">Passed in 2017, <a href=\"https:\/\/jsis.washington.edu\/news\/german-content-moderation-and-platform-liability-policies\/\">Germany\u2019s NetzDG<\/a> was one of the first online content moderation laws. The EU\u2019s Digital Services Act superseded NetzDG in 2024. Currently, Germany is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/germany-online-hate-speech-prosecution-60-minutes\/\">aggressively prosecuting<\/a> hate speech online, and some commentators warn that <a href=\"https:\/\/cdt.org\/insights\/german-social-media-law-creates-strong-incentives-for-censorship\/\">hefty fines<\/a> may be incentivizing platforms to err on the side of caution and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techpolicy.press\/most-comments-deleted-from-social-media-platforms-in-germany-france-and-sweden-were-legal-speech-why-that-should-raise-concerns-for-free-expression-online\/\">remove legal speech<\/a>. As a result, German internet users may not be able to access content that is not only available elsewhere but should be legal even in Germany itself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/China-600x511-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3989\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/China-600x511-1.png 600w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/China-600x511-1-300x256.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-0a43aece06e360447984bb17e92c9d6f\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>China<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-1861644f22295c5aa205eb93a75c2dd4 wp-block-paragraph\">Supported by legislation, China\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/resources\/internet-fragmentation\/the-chinese-firewall\/\">Great Firewall<\/a>\u201d is a sophisticated surveillance and blocking system that <a href=\"https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/country\/china\/freedom-net\/2024\">prevents<\/a> Chinese citizens from accessing foreign information sources, internet tools and mobile apps. Some provinces have implemented <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2025\/may\/24\/alarming-rise-in-regional-internet-censorship-in-china-study-finds\">additional, even stricter censorship<\/a>. In 2025, China <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/analysis\/chinas-underwater-power-play-prcs-new-subsea-cable-cutting-ship-spooks-international\">developed ships<\/a> capable of cutting undersea fiber-optic cables, enabling them to <a href=\"https:\/\/asiatimes.com\/2026\/03\/chinas-ocean-floor-push-blurs-the-line-between-mining-and-war\/\">interfere in other countries\u2019 internet access<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-ghana-transpar-229077-Photoroom.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11357\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-ghana-transpar-229077-Photoroom.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-ghana-transpar-229077-Photoroom-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-ghana-transpar-229077-Photoroom-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-ghana-transpar-229077-Photoroom-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-0bd058cda14e7ed1455844349703363e\" id=\"h-ghana\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Ghana<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-24ee349b8c29a953b4f0a42b71cf7789 wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2021, Ghana has been attempting to pass an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2026\/03\/10\/ghanas-parliament-revives-dangerous-anti-lgbt-bill\">anti-LGBTQ+ bill<\/a> that could require social media companies to take down LGBTQ+ content and criminalize the creation and sharing of LGBTQ+ content. While the internet is not the bill\u2019s primary focus, the censorship provisions would make it more difficult for people to share and access information.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-england-transp-229077-Photoroom.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11358\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-england-transp-229077-Photoroom.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-england-transp-229077-Photoroom-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-england-transp-229077-Photoroom-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-england-transp-229077-Photoroom-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-5e720a58889d50153278b7484f7f9717\" id=\"h-united-kingdom\">United Kingdom<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-1ee0e3096fa46759775b6771ae8c30b7 wp-block-paragraph\">The UK\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/08\/12\/why-the-uk-age-verification-law-has-led-to-backlash.html\">Online Safety Act<\/a> entered into force in 2025. The law aims to protect children online, but the methods used for age verification have resulted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetsociety.org\/resources\/internet-fragmentation\/uk-online-safety-act\/\">widespread surveillance<\/a> and undermine encryption on a range of sites.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"548\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/EU-548x600-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3991\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/EU-548x600-1.png 548w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/EU-548x600-1-274x300.png 274w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-1770d561a5491747ef4f2191aa90f462\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>European Union<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-279dcb3668fad486e8b8944e9fb05cca wp-block-paragraph\">The EU\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/stories\/2025\/01\/europe-digital-sovereignty\/\">comprehensive approach<\/a> to digital legislation has created new means of safeguarding personal data and human rights. Developers have responded by limiting the availability of certain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/opinion\/articles\/2025-01-10\/a-new-world-for-facebook-and-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-s-splinternet\">features<\/a> by location. For example, rather than developing AI tools that comply with European standards, Meta has chosen not to release AI tools in Europe at all. That means that Meta\u2019s platforms may work substantively differently in Europe than elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1048\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/India.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4183\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/India.webp 1000w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/India-286x300.webp 286w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/India-977x1024.webp 977w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/India-768x805.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-b716de08062eb751fcf5be8017367827\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>India<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-39107d5ac1f90576efc2894e33fcb755 wp-block-paragraph\">India\u2019s government has expanded digital censorship efforts in recent years through legislation, internet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techpolicy.press\/why-2024-was-the-worst-year-for-internet-shutdowns\/\">shutdowns<\/a>, platform bans and heightened <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/media-telecom\/musk-vs-modi-inside-battle-over-indias-internet-censorship-2025-08-06\/\">scrutiny of platforms<\/a>. The 2023 Telecommunications Act expanded state power to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techpolicy.press\/privacy-in-peril-indias-interception-regime\/\">intercept messages<\/a>, undermining encryption and privacy. New 2025 rules on <a href=\"https:\/\/restofworld.org\/2025\/india-satellite-starlink\/\">satellite internet providers<\/a> require data localization, potentially <a href=\"https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/article\/data-localization-global-threat-human-rights-online\">undermining<\/a> an open internet. All these policies threaten free expression and an open internet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"902\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Iran.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4184\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Iran.png 1000w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Iran-300x271.png 300w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Iran-768x693.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-05ab46f072ace0b56acd84cb1516bde2\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Iran<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-53882ec0c752ba0105019994c6aef210 wp-block-paragraph\">Like China, the Iranian government has near-complete <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/subvert-iran-internet-blackout\/\">control<\/a> over its internet through the \u201cNational Information Network,\u201d first envisioned by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in 2005. Despite this, VPNs are widely used, and Starlink has emerged as a less common but viable workaround \u2014 even though it is illegal. Moreover, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/mar\/02\/internet-blackout-regime-iranians-experts-digital-censorship\">internet shutdowns<\/a> occurred during the nationwide blackout amid Israeli and American airstrikes from early January 2026 to spring 2026, showing how this control is used during crises.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"2196\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Myanmar.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4185\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Myanmar.webp 1000w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Myanmar-137x300.webp 137w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Myanmar-466x1024.webp 466w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Myanmar-768x1687.webp 768w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Myanmar-699x1536.webp 699w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Myanmar-933x2048.webp 933w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-91600528a43cb45a8f6d47c5eb477de3\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Myanmar<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-6c9dc7dc0df9a35cbcd5e04ce5caca1e wp-block-paragraph\">In the midst of Myanmar\u2019s 2021 military <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/02\/14\/world\/asia\/myanmar-military-crackdown.html\">coup<\/a>, soldiers forced telecom operators to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/graphics\/MYANMAR-POLITICS\/INTERNET-RESTRICTION\/rlgpdbreepo\/\">shut off the internet<\/a> to suppress protests and prevent residents from accessing and sharing information with the global community. Since then, the junta has enacted a cybersecurity law criminalizing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/myanmar\/2025\/01\/02\/cybersecurity-law-vpn\/\">use of VPNs<\/a>, further restricting the free flow of information between Myanmar and the rest of the world. The impacts of this fragmentation have been particularly worrying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/28\/world\/asia\/myanmar-earthquake-internet-censorship.html\">during natural disasters<\/a>.<br><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"373\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Russia-600x373-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3996\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Russia-600x373-1.png 600w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Russia-600x373-1-300x187.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-2ed420be4b6e4b9f1cc895ecf5757b37\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Russia<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-5e94d4af2a6ea7062b615db7cad7f2a0 wp-block-paragraph\">In 2019, President Vladimir Putin\u2019s government signed a law establishing its \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/in-depth-research-reports\/issue-brief\/reassessing-runet-russian-internet-isolation-and-implications-for-russian-cyber-behavior\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RuNet<\/a>\u201d intranet plan, though it has yet to come to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2022\/03\/07\/russia-runet-disconnect-ukraine-dns-chernenko-letter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fruition<\/a>. Amid the war in Ukraine, Russian forces have attacked Ukrainian internet infrastructure to cause internet&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/ukrainians-work-through-blackouts-internet-outages-as-russia-targets-power-grid-218a0fd5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">outages<\/a>. Russia\u2019s media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, stepped up efforts in 2022 to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/interfax.com\/newsroom\/top-stories\/79803\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">block<\/a>&nbsp;VPN services, preventing citizens from accessing prohibited online content. The government has expanded its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/russia-spend-over-half-billion-dollars-bolster-internet-censorship-system-2024-09-10\/\">ban<\/a> of VPNs (virtual private networks). This system restricts a free flow of information between Russia and the rest of the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide swiper-slide is-layout-flow wp-block-gridible-static-carousel-slide-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-full-height has-shade-4-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-67aea4fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-nepal-transpar-229077-1-Photoroom.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11362\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4\/3;object-fit:contain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-nepal-transpar-229077-1-Photoroom.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-nepal-transpar-229077-1-Photoroom-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-nepal-transpar-229077-1-Photoroom-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_-can-you-make-a-grey-country-like-the-reference-image-in-the-shape-of-nepal-transpar-229077-1-Photoroom-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-echo-font-size wp-elements-c15861ee570daeab329e7bd7b7e38274\" id=\"h-nepal\">Nepal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-shade-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-4a12081979aca1c184ab2c0c5887822d wp-block-paragraph\">In 2025, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accessnow.org\/press-release\/keepiton-nepals-telegram-ban-is-a-dangerous-escalation-of-digital-censorship\/\">Nepal blocked<\/a> the popular messaging app Telegram, citing concerns about fraud. While the country lifted an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/22\/world\/asia\/nepal-tiktok-china.html\">earlier ban on Tiktok<\/a> in 2024, digital rights groups <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csohate.org\/2025\/02\/03\/nepal-digital-rights\/\">raised concerns<\/a> about proposals to regulate social media. Later the same year, VPNs and social media ultimately <a href=\"https:\/\/niemanreports.org\/nepal-gen-z-discord-revolution-elections-subina-shrestha\/\">enabled a revolution<\/a> against the restrictive regime.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-delta-font-size\" id=\"Resources\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\">Archived Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pat-post-resources-tabs has-shade-4-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mbm-tab-layout\" data-wp-interactive=\"{ &quot;namespace&quot;: &quot;mbm\/tabLayout&quot; }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;selectedIndex&quot;:0}\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mbm-tab-buttons has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-condensed-font-family has-foxtrot-font-size wp-elements-d60c50e22cba1f25526f97f09dc35068 is-layout-flex wp-block-mbm-tab-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"color:#00000080;font-style:normal;font-weight:700\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mbm-tab-button\" data-wp-interactive=\"{ &quot;namespace&quot;: &quot;mbm\/tabLayout\/tabButton&quot; }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;index&quot;:null}\" data-wp-class--wp-block-mbm-tab-button--selected=\"state.isSelected\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mbm-tab-button\" data-wp-interactive=\"{ &quot;namespace&quot;: &quot;mbm\/tabLayout\/tabButton&quot; }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;index&quot;:null}\" data-wp-class--wp-block-mbm-tab-button--selected=\"state.isSelected\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable Articles and Statements<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mbm-tab-button\" data-wp-interactive=\"{ &quot;namespace&quot;: &quot;mbm\/tabLayout\/tabButton&quot; }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;index&quot;:null}\" data-wp-class--wp-block-mbm-tab-button--selected=\"state.isSelected\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Key Institutions<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mbm-tab-button\" data-wp-interactive=\"{ &quot;namespace&quot;: &quot;mbm\/tabLayout\/tabButton&quot; }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;index&quot;:null}\" data-wp-class--wp-block-mbm-tab-button--selected=\"state.isSelected\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notable Voices<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mbm-tab-button\" data-wp-interactive=\"{ &quot;namespace&quot;: &quot;mbm\/tabLayout\/tabButton&quot; }\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;index&quot;:null}\" data-wp-class--wp-block-mbm-tab-button--selected=\"state.isSelected\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-scale-up has-border-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-aktiv-grotesk-font-family has-golf-font-size wp-elements-c052379a96552d45f8883b03acda1c32 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Issue primers have been reviewed<\/strong> at multiple stages by more than 20 global research and industry expert partners, including CNTI advisory committee members, representing five regions. We invite you to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">send us<\/a>&nbsp;research, legislation and other resources.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/newsletters-announcements\/addressing-research-quality-faq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more<\/a>&nbsp;about CNTI\u2019s issue primer and other research quality standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gridible-responsive-spacer\" style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How can we encourage the protection<br \/>\nof an open internet?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8590,"parent":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mbm_post_meta_color_slug":[],"_mbm_featured_category_id":"78","inline_featured_image":false,"_mbmamp_team_author_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[219,108],"cnti-focus-area":[98],"cnti-topic":[86,89],"class_list":["post-8587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-issue-primers","tag-feature","tag-featured","cnti-focus-area-open-internet","cnti-topic-information-integrity","cnti-topic-press-freedom"],"acf":{"cnti_article_quick_read_link_file":{"simple_value_formatted":"<a href=\"https:\/\/cnti.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CNTI-Two-Pager-Open-Internet.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">CNTI Two Pager - 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Issue","value_formatted":"The Issue","value":"The 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