RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE

Image: Russia-Ukraine

RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE


Access Now stands with the people of Ukraine
 as they endure Russia’s large-scale military invasion targeting population centers across the country, alongside ongoing cyberattacks impacting critical services and infrastructure.

Digital right violations enable and escalate offline violence, and the calculated attacks targeting digital systems essential to people’s safety and wellbeing are unacceptable.

We also stand in solidarity with the activists, journalists, and human rights defenders in Russia and Belarus fighting to ensure people in their countries have access to the truth, as well as the platforms necessary to voice their dissent and mobilize for peace and democracy.

CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIONS

EU Ukraine

Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and civil society violate human rights

Following cyberattacks on Ukraine and its human rights defenders, we call on the international community to help protect people.

EU Ukraine

Content Governance

EU must keep people in and leaving Ukraine as safe, secure, connected as possible

Through an open letter, Access Now is calling on the EU to protect people in Ukraine, and those escaping the war to EU countries.

Burkina Faso internet

Digital Security

U.S. moves to keep the Russian people connected despite sanctions

In response to a coalition letter led by Access Now and the Wikimedia Foundation, the U.S. Treasury Department decided to exempt internet communications services from U.S. sanctions in Russia.

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Freedom of Expression

What the tech sector can do to respect human rights in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and beyond

As the Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates to war, the tech sector must do more than merely comply with sanctions. Here are our recommendations for mitigating human rights harms. 

EU Ukraine

Freedom of Expression

Don’t help Putin and Lukashenko silence anti-war voices

Despots like Putin and Lukashenko rule by isolating and lying to their people. Here are four strategies to fight disinformation and protect anti-war voices in Russia and Belarus.

Kazakhstan internet

Freedom of Expression

UK protects free flow of information amidst Russia sanctions

The UK government has listened to civil society’s assertion that blocking the flow of information in and out of Russia will strike a blow to the rights of millions.  

EU Ukraine

Digital Security

#KeepItOn: How to stop internet shutdowns in Ukraine

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine includes cyberattacks and deliberate disruptions to the internet that are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

FAQS

WHAT DOES UKRAINE’S ONLINE SPACE LOOK LIKE?

Ukraine’s online space has been targeted by Russia through cyberattacks since before the war. It is believed Russian authorities have:

Authorities in Ukraine and beyond have responded by:

WHAT DOES RUSSIA’S ONLINE SPACE LOOK LIKE?

Online censorship and crackdowns on dissent voices have been escalating further in Russia since the beginning of war. Russian authorities have:

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, authorities had:

KeepItOn 2024 Elections and Internet Shutdowns Watch
Internet Shutdowns
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16 Sep 2024

Governments around the world continue to shut down the internet during elections. Join our 2024 elections watch to #KeepItOn.

Campaign
2024 elections and internet shutdowns watch
16 Sep 2024
2024 elections and internet shutdowns watch
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Artificial Intelligence

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Internet Shutdowns

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15 May 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition documented 283 internet shutdowns in 2023 — the highest number since 2016.

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Shrinking democracy, growing violence: internet shutdowns in 2023
15 May 2024
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15 May 2024

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition documented 283 internet shutdowns in 2023 — the highest number since 2016.

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15 May 2024
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22 Feb 2024

Approaching two years since the full-scale invasion, we document the atrocities in Ukraine and the inflicted suffering on its people.

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22 Feb 2024
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Content Governance
Content Governance

Content and platform governance in times of crisis: applying international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law

13 Dec 2023

This new report discusses the application of international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law in content governance in crises.

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Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Joint Statement: Internet Governance Forum must reverse decision to make Saudi Arabia its next host

12 Oct 2023

An IGF 2024 hosted by Saudi Arabia is incompatible with the event’s multistakeholder model, as human rights risks make robust civil society engagement impossible.

Campaign
Joint Statement: Internet Governance Forum must reverse decision to make Saudi Arabia its next host
12 Oct 2023
Joint Statement: Internet Governance Forum must reverse decision to make Saudi Arabia its next host
A new investigation by Access Now and Citizen Lab reveals first-time use of Pegasus spyware against a Russian journalist.
Surveillance
Surveillance

Exiled media under attack: Access Now documents first-time use of Pegasus against Russian journalist

13 Sep 2023

A new investigation by Access Now and Citizen Lab reveals first-time use of Pegasus spyware against exiled Russian media.

Press Release
Exiled media under attack: Access Now documents first-time use of Pegasus against Russian journalist
13 Sep 2023
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Passport and Visa Systems must not exclude members of human rights community around the world
Protest and Online Organizing
Protest and Online Organizing

Joint Statement: Passport and visa systems must not exclude members of the human rights community from cross-border convenings

7 Jun 2023

These discriminatory systems prevent human rights defenders from coming together to advance their work, bring severe hardship and harm to those impacted, and unjustly place the heaviest burden on people from the Global Majority. Join us in taking a stand.

Campaign
Joint Statement: Passport and visa systems must not exclude members of the human rights community from cross-border convenings
7 Jun 2023
Joint Statement: Passport and visa systems must not exclude members of the human rights community from cross-border convenings
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Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Internet shutdowns advance into 2023: #KeepItOn mid-year update

6 Jun 2023

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition have identified at least 80 internet shutdowns across 21 countries in 2023 so far.

Press Release
Internet shutdowns advance into 2023: #KeepItOn mid-year update
6 Jun 2023
Internet shutdowns advance into 2023: #KeepItOn mid-year update
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Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

Who is shutting down the internet in 2023? A mid-year update

6 Jun 2023

Since the beginning of 2023, governments around the world are discovering new reasons to disrupt internet access during key national moments.

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Who is shutting down the internet in 2023? A mid-year update
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Tech and conflict
Transparency
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18 May 2023

This guide is meant to help tech companies think through the impacts of their decisions in the context of conflict.

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Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition's report unpacks internet shutdowns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and globally.
Internet Shutdowns
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27 Apr 2023

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition’s report unpacks internet shutdowns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and globally.

Press Release
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Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition's report unpacks internet shutdowns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and globally.
Internet Shutdowns
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Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition's report unpacks internet shutdowns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and globally.
Internet Shutdowns
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