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Deji Olukotun

Senior Global Advocacy Manager

As a member of the advocacy team, Deji Bryce Olukotun (email: [email protected]) manages Access Now's global campaigns on fighting internet shutdowns, the open internet, cybersecurity, and ensuring that our fundamental rights are respected online. He came from the literary and human rights organization PEN American Center, where he founded PEN's digital freedom program and managed its capacity-building work in Myanmar, South Africa, Haiti, and Nigeria. He holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School, a BA from Yale University, and dual masters degrees in Creative Writing and Justice & Transformation from the University of Cape Town, where he was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. He has also worked as corporate counsel for a small technology startup. An avid writer, Deji is the author of the novel Nigerians in Space (Unnamed Press) and After the Flare (forthcoming, 2017). His work has been featured in The Atlantic, NPR, The New York Times, and Vice.

No, Liberia wasn’t forced offline. Yes, we still need a stronger internet.

8 Nov 2016

A more resilient internet is an internet that will better safeguard free expression and human rights.

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No, Liberia wasn’t forced offline. Yes, we still need a stronger internet.
8 Nov 2016
No, Liberia wasn’t forced offline. Yes, we still need a stronger internet.

Bleeding lives and money: the cost of internet shutdowns from Turkey to Bahrain

27 Oct 2016

Shutdowns are like avalanches that shear through the foundation for economic growth, wrecking lives and businesses along the way.

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Bleeding lives and money: the cost of internet shutdowns from Turkey to Bahrain
27 Oct 2016
Bleeding lives and money: the cost of internet shutdowns from Turkey to Bahrain

Judge orders block of Facebook throughout Brazil over parody account

10 Oct 2016

Brazil’s economy has already lost more than $100 million dollars due to the blocking of WhatsApp. This won’t help.

Press Release
Judge orders block of Facebook throughout Brazil over parody account
10 Oct 2016
Judge orders block of Facebook throughout Brazil over parody account
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Access Now welcomes new report on economic impact of shutdowns

6 Oct 2016

The report confirms that the dangerous practice defeats trust in the internet economy, and tells the world your country is closed to business.

Press Release
Access Now welcomes new report on economic impact of shutdowns
6 Oct 2016
Access Now welcomes new report on economic impact of shutdowns

Investors in tech companies at risk over internet shutdowns

28 Sep 2016

Our new briefing with ShareAction highlights the risks that shutdowns pose to tech investors.

Press Release
Investors in tech companies at risk over internet shutdowns
28 Sep 2016
Investors in tech companies at risk over internet shutdowns

Coalition calls out Bahrain for sneakily shutting down the internet

23 Aug 2016

“It’s clear that there is a coordinated effort across several ISPs to shut down mobile towers in Duraz at the same time every night, and deliberately degrade landline internet traffic.”

Press Release
Coalition calls out Bahrain for sneakily shutting down the internet
23 Aug 2016
Coalition calls out Bahrain for sneakily shutting down the internet

Victory! President of Ghana says no to internet shutdowns during coming elections

16 Aug 2016

The statement comes after months of controversy surrounding remarks made by the police chief that he was considering shutting down social networks in December.

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Victory! President of Ghana says no to internet shutdowns during coming elections
16 Aug 2016
Victory! President of Ghana says no to internet shutdowns during coming elections

Pakistan’s new cybercrime powers to have global reach

11 Aug 2016

Yet another bill intended to make the internet more secure instead globally undermines digital security and privacy.

Press Release
Pakistan’s new cybercrime powers to have global reach
11 Aug 2016
Pakistan’s new cybercrime powers to have global reach

Brazil: stopping an internet shutdown at the Olympics

9 Aug 2016

Supporters from 66 countries sent a single, powerful message to Brazil: the world is watching, and we won’t tolerate any interference with the right to free expression.

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Brazil: stopping an internet shutdown at the Olympics
9 Aug 2016
Brazil: stopping an internet shutdown at the Olympics

Access Now urges Brazil not to jam communications during Olympic games

5 Aug 2016

We’re urging authorities to resist using new “jamming” technology to shut down communications networks, and to keep the internet on during the Olympic games.

Press Release
Access Now urges Brazil not to jam communications during Olympic games
5 Aug 2016
Access Now urges Brazil not to jam communications during Olympic games