Freedom of information and communication have long been considered inalienable human rights, according to the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But in the near-75 years since the UN adopted the declaration, regimes across the world continue to infringe and restrict these two cornerstones of civil liberty and democratic society.
From blocking social media services to restricting communications channels, repressive regimes harness their power to suppress dissent and sever contact with the outside world. Today, more than 57 countries or territories are considered "not free," according to the Freedom House's 2023 Freedom in the World report. Among other key factors that create this distinction, Freedom House points to a severe lack of political and civil liberties in each of these nations, including moderate-to-extreme levels of internet surveillance and restricted digital communication.
To counter extreme surveillance and government repression, Unplugged, the company dedicated to bringing true privacy and security to everyday consumer communications, has been tapped by an anonymous international NGO in a $2.5 million deal to license its mobile VPN technology for vulnerable populations in multiple countries.
Due to the delicate geopolitical climate and ground-level situations in certain countries, the name of the NGO and the locations it operates in cannot be disclosed at this time.
Through the deal, the NGO can now provide free-of-charge VPN access powered by Unplugged's underlying technology to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people, enabling them to bypass restrictions and avoid surveillance mandates set in their own countries. This includes everything from messaging apps that allow citizens to connect with family members abroad to social media networks that have been banned in certain territories to block outside information.
"Providing robust, secure, and private communications is key to our mission at Unplugged," says Ryan Paterson, President of Unplugged. "There are people all over the world that cannot afford advanced technical solutions for privacy, we are thrilled to be partnered with great partners to help close this gap."
Unplugged helps continue the fight for universal access to communication, expression, and privacy through the partnership. In addition to helping local populations, the VPN program allows humanitarian workers in critical services such as doctors and lawyers to have open access to communication and news channels.
While the VPN is only part of Unplugged's privacy-focused App Suite, it provides the most critical infrastructure to empower free information and open communication pathways. It helps put the power back into the hands of the user by breaking down barriers of oppressive regime policies and austere communicative frameworks.
The VPN program also aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, seventeen interconnected global objectives that form a collective blueprint for peace and prosperity. Its participation in this project aims to help solve goal sixteen, which encompasses strides to create peace, justice, and strong institutions. Partnering with an NGO demonstrates the power of the private sector collaborating with humanitarian efforts to reinforce the pillars of communication and information.
