DAY OF ACTION SEPTEMBER 25! VPNs make it safer to use the Internet. Governments are trying to ban them.
Sign the letter to world leaders: using the Internet safely and privately is a human right. Don’t ban VPNs!
Virtual Private Network (VPN) downloads in Britain are surging as people protect themselves from a draconian new “Online Safety” law, which forces you to upload a government ID to access online content and information. So of course, some UK politicians are already talking about banning or restricting VPNs, while the promotion of VPN services is restricted. Meanwhile, a first-in-the-nation total VPN ban bill was just introduced in the US state of Michigan. Some bans have already succeeded. It’s time to fight back.
Letter text
To government leaders across the globe,
I’m writing today to ask you to defend Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), an important tool that people the world over use to defend their right to privacy and to access knowledge and information online.
Recent “Age Verification” laws are accelerating the discussion of banning or restricting VPN usage, in order to force all Internet users to be surveilled under these draconian measures that, clearly, are having unintended consequences and not making the Internet a safer place. Online surveillance and censorship has a huge chilling effect on our freedoms, particularly the freedoms of traditionally marginalized people.
Now is a time for principled leadership when it comes to the tools we use to protect ourselves and do business online. Thank you for standing up for these important tools for online safety and access.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
In the US? Don’t stop with signing the letter. Call your lawmakers now!
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Introduce yourself, be polite, and say:
“I'm calling as a constituent to let my representatives know that I support VPNs, which are important tools for a surveillance and censorship free Internet, as well as for basic online safety. I don't want my representatives to do anything that might lead to a VPN ban.”
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Toolkit + Graphics
Influencers, VPN Projects, and aligned organizations! We’ve got a toolkit for you to promote the day of action right here.
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What is a VPN?
A VPN is a “Virtual Private Network” that allows you to appear as if you are using the Internet from a different location. This has many privacy benefits, like hiding your physical location—or letting you access online content and knowledge that is censored where you live.
Why are governments trying to ban them?
Authoritarian governments are always seeking more ways to control people. Censorship is a way to control what we can say or learn. Surveillance is a way to control our actions. VPNs allow us to circumvent both of these methods of control online, and oppressive governments would like to ban them in order to increase their control of us.
Do I need a VPN?
Maybe. We frequently use VPNs here at Fight for the Future. And certainly hundreds of thousands of people living under age verification regimes in places like the UK or some US states are finding a VPN necessary to maintain their privacy amid oppressive new “Age Verification” surveillance laws.
How do I find a good VPN?
Our friends over at Electronic Frontier Foundation have a great guide here, with lots more information on VPNs.