INITIATIVES.

In a time when democracy is in major decline and trust has been lost in our most critical institutions, we focus on initiatives that ensure the survival of our most fundamental human rights.

DEMOCRACY

Last year was the fifteenth year in a row of democratic decline. Less than four percent of the world’s population now enjoy full democratic freedoms. New legislation and government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are on track to reduce this figure further.

We are mobilizing a global network of advocates working to improve civil liberties, political participation, and electoral processes.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

We work to keep the Internet decentralized and open. Democracy thrives when individuals and communities can share and access information, conduct trade, and organize politically without restriction, censorship, or monitoring.

FREEDOM OF PRESS

We work to protect the institution of free press. The foundation of democracy lies in having an informed society. One that holds a high standard for integrity in journalism that allows for open debate, disagreement with government leaders, and alternative view points.

FREEDOM TO ASSEMBLE

The right for citizens to gather to express agreement or disagreement with those in power is central to any self-governing society. We stand up for the rights of people to assemble peacefully.

RIGHT TO PRIVACY

Technological innovations have outpaced our privacy protections. The digital footprint is growing, containing more and more data about the most intimate aspects of our lives. This includes our personal communications, whereabouts, online searches, purchases, and political affiliations.

We support open source solutions such as encryption, the Tor Project, and reliable virtual private networks. We work to inform our communities and government leaders that citizens being subjected to undue surveillance and monitoring poses a dangerous threat to society.

RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS

International rights law states that no one can be detained without a legitimate reason and anyone accused of a crime has the right to a fair trial. We campaign for victims of injustice and hold government leaders responsible for unlawful arrests, secret detentions, torture or ill-treatment, and other abuses.

SECURITY OF PERSON

Every person should have full confidence in their right to security of person. We take the stance that law-abiding citizens must have the means necessary to defend themselves, their families, and their communities from bad actors.