Revolution 2.

0:
The Internet in the Middle East and North Africa

Netfreedom, Growing Civic Activism, Repression 2.0

American University
Washington, DC
May 5th, 2011
 Net Freedom @ Freedom House

–  Freedom on the Net (FOTN)

•  2009 (15), 2011 (37)

–  Technology Support
•  Support, Training, Monitoring, Research

–  Advocacy / Policy
•  Internet Governance (IGF)
•  Freedom of Expression

•  Engaging NGO Networks

–  Strategic Partnerships
 What is Net Freedom?

•  What techniques are used to

control and censor online content?

•  What are the main threats to

internet and digital media freedom?

•  What are the positive trends and

uses of these technologies?
 HOW DO WE MEASURE NET FREEDOM

•  Obstacles to Access

•  Limits on Content

•  Violations of User Rights

 GROWING CIVIC ACTIVISM
Bloggers and other internet users
are using digital media in creative
ways to mobilize:

•  Low Tech

•  Samisdat: Soviet Union

•  Sneakernets: Serbia, Cuba

•  Social networking

•  Facebook: Colombia, Iran, Egypt,

Tunisia

•  Microblogging

•  Twitter: Moldova, Tunisia, Egypt,

Syria, ..

•  SMS

•  Text messages - Kenya, Zimbabwe,

Tunisia, Egypt
LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS AND VIOLENCE
•  Legal repercussions:
–  Use of general media legislation against
online activities as well as development
of internet-specific legislation

•  Extra-legal harassment and

violence:

–  Detentions, intimidation, torture

–  Technical violence: Hacking, DDoS
attacks, Cyber espionage, etc..

•  Surveillance and infringements on

privacy in a wide range of
environments
Repression 2.0 : New Threats

Just in Time Blocking

Key website, services or infrastructure blocked

•  Flag for removal:

–  Can “crowd sourced” mechanisms be used to suspend accounts?

•  Communications infrastructure turned off

–  Burma, Iran
–  Egypt, Libya

•  Technical Attacks:
–  Compromising SSL : Man in the middle attacks
–  Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack
–  Country level Phishing attacks (Tunisia, Syria)
–  Targeted Malware: China, Egypt

•  Targeted Censorship:
–  Block key sites at critical time (Elections, protests, etc)
Emergence of Malware Industry
 What can be done ?
•  Training
–  Surveillance (Mobile, Internet, etc..)
•  Threats & Vulnerabilities are complex

•  Need to explain in common, simple to understand language

–  Information Security:
•  Secure communications, Circumvention tools

•  Human Factors:

–  Don’t underestimate what damage one person can do

 What can be done (II) ?

•  Understanding the vulnerabilities

–  Need to understand user knowledge & choices

•  Surveys, Assessments, Research

–  Need to explain vulnerabilities, threats and solutions in

simple to use language
•  High Risk Environments / Pervasive Surveillance

–  Sending messages via insecure networks

•  Internet
•  Mobile Networks (location tracking, remote access of phone, etc..)
 What can be done (III) ?
–  Privacy should be maximized
–  Don’t leak key information

•  Credentials: username & passwords unlock one’s digital world

•  Data: Social networks

–  Privacy by default

•  Security settings activated by default

•  Persistent Security
•  Minimizing history/logs
•  Privacy not sharing should be the default.

–  Track security trends : SSL isn’t perfect

•  Two-Factor Authentication (SMS, Mobile Phone Apps, etc)

•  Secure Identify Management: Need co-operation from browsers (Mozilla,
Google, Microsoft)
 What can be done (IV) ?
–  Technology Development & Support

–  Chat
•  Skype: Vulnerabilities (What happens if it is blocked or compromised?)
•  Alternatives : Open Standards Based (Jabber, Guardian Project)

–  Website Hosting

•  Not just about servers : Domain name registration, bandwidth, etc

•  Hosting : Pick a jurisdiction that provides protection (US, Amazon EC2..)

–  Anti-censorship / Anonymity

•  Global Internet Freedom Consortium (GIFT) suite of tools

•  Psiphon (Proxy), Hotspot Shield (VPN), TOR (Anonymity)
Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization that supports the
expansion of freedom around the world. Freedom House supports democratic
change, monitors freedom, and advocates for democracy and human rights.

For more information contact:

Robert Guerra
Freedom House

Email: guerra@freedomhouse.org
Web: freedomhouse.org
Twitter: netfreedom

Support the right of every individual to be free.