Digital freedom is contested worldwide. Authoritarian states censor the web, deploy surveillance technology, and export tools of control, while democracies debate how to keep the online space open, secure, and rights-respecting. This hub follows that struggle: online censorship and its spread, state surveillance and its export, the resilience of the open internet under pressure, and the technologies that help citizens communicate and organize under repressive regimes. Defending open networks means countering both censorship and surveillance at once. Fellows and analysts examine how democracies can protect the open internet and counter digital authoritarianism from Moscow, Beijing, and beyond. Explore analysis and commentary on digital freedom, internet censorship, and online rights.
Digital Freedom
Iran’s shutdown underlines how governments around the globe are restricting internet access.
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January 23, 2026
The Resurrection of Network Fees
Part 4: European telecommunications operators are pushing for network fees again. South Korea's experience shows why that's a mistake.
January 22, 2026
Why Telephone-Age Rules Don’t Work for the Internet Age
Part 3: The EU and the US repelled authoritarian proposals at the ITU, preserving a free and open internet. But Network Fees weren't dead yet.
December 3, 2025
Authoritarians Are Ramping Up Online Censorship
A new Freedom House report details a dramatic expansion of government control over the Internet.
November 25, 2025
Blocked and Bypassed: Russians Evade Internet Censorship
Millions of Russians still use VPNs to see forbidden content — and the Kremlin struggles to respond.
August 7, 2025
Mapping the Brussels Effect: The GDPR Goes Global
Europe's data privacy rules set the global standard — and provoke transatlantic tensions.
August 7, 2025
The Encryption Debate
It is an old debate — security vs privacy. As countries seek access to sensitive data for national security, new rules may break encryption.
July 9, 2025
Spanish Soccer Tests Internet Blocking
FIFA’s Club World Cup championship game is approaching. Will viewers pay to watch – or pirate the match?
June 20, 2025
A Glimmer of Transatlantic Tech Consensus: Child Safety
Washington and Brussels, at loggerheads over digital regulation, share a common desire to protect children online.
June 17, 2025
Inside Cyber Diplomacy Redux: Episode I
Experts discuss the state of international cyber policy, including key UN cybersecurity processes, accountability challenges, and the evolving role of the private sector.