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Allie Funk

@alfunk.bsky.social
7.2K followers 241 following 38 posts

Geeking out on human rights, tech, & internet freedom. She/her. Opinions are all mine, y’all, no one else's.

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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
The 2025 edition of Freedom on the Net launches tomorrow! RSVP to our virtual event to learn the state of internet freedom: freedomhouse.org/event/report...
freedomhouse.org
REPORT LAUNCH: Freedom on the Net 2025
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Excellent analysis from @nateschenkkan.bsky.social, who literally helped build the USG's response to transnational repression
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Freedom House @freedomhouse.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
We are pleased to announce the relaunch of our China Dissent Monitor! Though we are excited, the project's funding remains limited—we urgently need more support to sustain our team's efforts to track public protest under the CCP regime. Here's how you can help: freedomhouse.org/ways-to-give
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Yana Gorokhovskaia @ygorokho.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
One of the things I have enjoyed the most about transitioning from academia to alt ac research in the NGO space is seeing the impacts of research in the wild. This week has been especially significant in that regard.
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Philip Di Salvo @philipdisalvo.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
I governi che prendono di mira le vpn stanno minacciando la libertà di internet: www.wired.it/article/cens... > @alfunk.bsky.social and Patryk Pawlak on @wired.it
wired.it
I governi che prendono di mira le vpn stanno minacciando la libertà di internet
Le restrizioni alle tecnologie anticensura sono diventate una strategia sempre più comune dei regimi (e non solo): democrazie e settore privato hanno il dovere di invertire la tendenza
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
“The problem with thinking about foreign policy purely as something to “win” is that winning is seldom final, and a reckless victory can carry its own dangers.” 🔥
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
We’ve got new research diving deep into how governments are restricting VPNs and end-to-end encryption, including fresh data on blocking. We also showcase stories of resilience, because it's not all bad news! freedomhouse.org/report/speci...
freedomhouse.org
Tunnel Vision: Anti-censorship Tools, End-to-End Encryption and the Fight for a Free and Open Internet
Governments around the world are increasingly exerting control over the technology that people depend on to access the free and open internet.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Excellent analysis about the global impact of an America First digital policy foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/04/t...
foreignpolicy.com
Brave New Techno-Nationalist World
The Trump administration is rapidly reshaping the global digital order.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
In Brussels on June 20? Join us for the launch event of our new report, "Tunnel Vision: Anti-censorship Tools, End-to-end Encryption, and the Fight for a Free and Open Internet," in partnership with the European University Institute. Register here: freedomhouse.org/event/shapin...
freedomhouse.org
Shaping the Future of an Open and Free Internet: The Impact of Global Restrictions on Anti-Censorship and Encryption Tools
Join us for the launch of a new report, Tunnel Vision: Anti-censorship Tools, End-to-end Encryption, and the Fight for a Free and Open Internet.
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WIRED @wired.com · 27/05/2025
"I have nothing to hide! I don't need digital privacy!" Well... - AI companies are scraping your data - Scammers are using AI to get better at their schemes - And yeah, a new era of government surveillance... A starter guide to protecting you online life:
wired.com
A Starter Guide to Protecting Your Data From Hackers and Corporations
Hackers. AI data scrapes. Government surveillance. Yeah, thinking about where to start when it comes to protecting your online privacy can be overwhelming. Here’s a simple guide for you—and anyone who...
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
The USG's reduction in internet freedom funding upends its longstanding, bipartisan strategy. I spoke with @ramshajahangir.bsky.social about how Freedom on the Net and the broader digital rights community have been impacted by these cuts, and how we are responding to meet this moment.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Great new piece from @freedomhouse.bsky.social's Maddie Masinsin & @thegni.bsky.social's @ramshajahangir.bsky.social on the human rights costs of data localization requirements freedomhouse.org/article/data...
freedomhouse.org
Data Localization: A Global Threat to Human Rights Online
As more and more governments turn to data localization, these laws’ negative impact on digital rights are becoming increasingly clear. The multistakeholder community must come together to devise right...
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
The type of leadership we need in this moment. Grateful to @abramowitz.bsky.social for filing this www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/b...
nytimes.com
Voice of America Director Sues Trump Officials Over Shutdown
The lawsuit by the director and journalists is the latest legal challenge to the administration’s bid to dismantle the government-funded broadcaster.
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Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Doing freedom in the world this year
media.tenor.com
a bald man in a car with the word witness written on his back
ALT: a bald man in a car with the word witness written on his back
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Chris Tenove @cjten.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
Terrible news. Freedom in the Net is incredibly valuable. I hope other funders step up with support.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
I also received a termination notice for our DOS Freedom on the Net grant. The work has been championed by bipartisan admins & is the foundation for understanding & advocating for internet freedom. We’re going to figure out a way forward. This work is too important for anyone to shut down.
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Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Last night State Department sent Freedom House notification of termination of a multi-year, multimillion dollar grant for work on transnational repression that I spent most of the last year developing and setting up.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 07/03/2025
The National Endowment for Democracy, a nonprofit that has had bipartisan support over decades for its work promoting democracy abroad, is suing the U.S. government and cabinet officials for withholding $239 million in congressional appropriations.
nytimes.com
National Endowment for Democracy Sues Top Trump Aides Over Funding Freeze
The nonprofit has enjoyed bipartisan support since its founding in the Reagan era, but it finds itself under pressure from the Trump administration.
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Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Another alarming indicator of eroding free speech culture as well as editorial independence at VOA. A longtime reporter is on leave and under investigation, called “treasonous” by a rep for the administration. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/b...
nytimes.com
Voice of America Journalists Face Investigations for Comments About Trump
The broadcaster placed a longtime journalist on leave amid growing concerns about its editorial independence.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
“History will judge us for how we meet this moment. Failing to stand with Ukraine will not only weaken Ukraine, but also damage the security of the United States and its allies by emboldening and empowering autocracies around the world.” freedomhouse.org/article/free...
freedomhouse.org
Free World Must Stand with Ukraine, Three Years After Moscow’s Full-Scale Invasion
Vladimir Putin and his enablers must be held accountable for violations of international law and national sovereignty.
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Joseph Lorenzo Hall, PhD @josephhall.org · 21/02/2025
We at the Internet Society are deeply disappointed that Apple has had to stop offering end-to-end encryption in the UK. The following can be attributed to Dr. Joseph Lorenzo Hall, Distinguished Technologist at the Internet Society: 1/
The following can be attributed to Dr. Joseph Lorenzo Hall, Distinguished Technologist at the Internet Society:

The Internet Society is saddened at the news that Apple has removed access to its cloud end-to-end encryption, known as Advanced Data Protection, for its UK users as a result of pressure by the UK government. This move will make British Apple users less safe, and make their cloud data more susceptible to criminals and other attackers. It is clear that the UK government continued to pressure Apple to weaken the security of its service despite global outcry from cybersecurity experts, civil society, private industry, and foreign politicians. 

In choosing to remove the feature rather than building a backdoor into its Advanced Data Protection, Apple ensured that at least its global users would continue to benefit from the security and privacy of end-to-end encryption. However, for UK users, their government ensured that their security and privacy is worse than before.
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Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
When Levitsky and Way write the op-ed about your country
media.tenor.com
a man in a leather jacket and tie is saying cool cool cool cool cool cool cool
ALT: a man in a leather jacket and tie is saying cool cool cool cool cool cool cool
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Joseph Lorenzo Hall, PhD @josephhall.org · 07/02/2025
We are exceedingly disappointed to hear the UK has secretly ordered Apple to let it spy on all users’ encrypted accounts. The following can be attributed to Robin Wilton @komadori.bsky.social , Senior Director of Internet Trust:
It's beyond disappointing that the United Kingdom’s government is using its powers under the Investigatory Powers Act to attempt to force Apple to break end-to-end encryption for its cloud service. The consensus among cybersecurity experts is clear: there’s no way to break encryption without making everyone more vulnerable. It is stunning that just days after the UK’s National Audit Office released a report that the "cyber threat to the UK government is severe,” the UK government would launch an attempt to weaken the security and privacy of a service that its citizens, including government employees, rely on.

There still is no safe way for Apple to break end-to-end encryption on its cloud services without weakening the privacy and security of all its users. Undermining protections for end-to-end encryption would make UK businesses and individuals less safe online. Opening a backdoor for the UK government also opens a backdoor for cyber criminals intent on accessing our private info"
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Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
US leadership on internet freedom and the free flow of information is in doubt, write Ramsha Jahangir and Justin Hendrix. Experts are concerned the US will cede important ground to China and Russia.
buff.ly
With US Commitment to Internet Freedom in Jeopardy, China and Russia Set to Gain | TechPolicy.Press
US leadership on internet freedom and the free flow of information in doubt, write Ramsha Jahangir and Justin Hendrix.
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Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
This NYT piece describes the devastation being wrought in the global health sector by the foreign assistance freeze. Let me say a few words about what this looks like in the sector I work in, often called democracy and governance (DRG). 🧵
nytimes.com
Health Programs Shutter Around the World After Trump Pauses Foreign Aid
Lifesaving treatment and prevention programs for tuberculosis, malaria, H.I.V. and other diseases cannot access funds to continue work.
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Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
So many of my friends, neighbors, and family members are immigrants, trans, non-binary, Muslim—and they still will be tomorrow, and the day after. No one gets to take away who we are. We choose.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
I spoke with @wired.com about Americans flocking to RedNote, censorship on the platform, and how this whole scenario demonstrates the ineffectiveness of trying to ban a single app like TikTok in the first place. www.wired.com/story/xiaoho...
wired.com
Xiaohongshu Scrambles to Hire English-Speaking Content Moderators
Job listings posted in China this week indicate that Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, is struggling to handle an influx of new users joining the platform from TikTok.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
I'm proud to be quoted in @freedomhouse.bsky.social's statement on the impending TikTok ban. The platform presents serious national security & human rights concerns. But this law doesn't correctly thread the needle b/w addressing these risks & protecting free speech. freedomhouse.org/article/us-r...
freedomhouse.org
US: Rather Than Ban TikTok, the Best Way to Protect App Users is to Strengthen Privacy, Transparency, and Security Protections Online
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
I have a lot of questions about FT’s editorial standards
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
Content moderation is messy + will always lead to mistakes. But independent fact-checking helps reliable information & free expression flourish. Framing this change as "good for free speech" plays into the false & dangerous narrative that all moderation is censorship. about.fb.com/news/2025/01...
about.fb.com
More Speech and Fewer Mistakes | Meta
We're ending our third party fact-checking program and moving to a Community Notes model.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
Another day that Ann Telnaes' cartoon hits perfectly
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Konstantinos Komaitis PhD @kkomaitis.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Read this by the one and only @alfunk.bsky.social -- she is spot on. There is a seismic shift happening with authoritarian governments Hijacking Global Tech Cooperation to Undermine Human Rights! freedomhouse.org/article/auth...
freedomhouse.org
Authoritarians Are Hijacking Global Tech Cooperation to Undermine Human Rights
Autocrats have taken the helm of the UN Cybercrime Convention and this year’s Internet Governance Forum, part of a much larger trend to advance authoritarian norms in the international system.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Excellent statement and recommendations from the wonderful @thegni.bsky.social + its members on IGF.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
The Saudi's hosting of IGF and Russia's (et al) push for the Cybercrime Convention is part of a global strategy by autocrats to cement their authoritarian worldviews at the UN. Yana Gorokhovskaia and I unpacked the Convention's impact on transnational repression: freedomhouse.org/article/auth...
freedomhouse.org
Authoritarians Are Hijacking Global Tech Cooperation to Undermine Human Rights
Autocrats have taken the helm of the UN Cybercrime Convention and this year’s Internet Governance Forum, part of a much larger trend to advance authoritarian norms in the international system.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
We've been saying *for years* that the cybercrime treaty is an effort to subvert the internet governance system. Russia just said the quiet part out loud: "this [treaty] is the first step towards a universal international legal regulation of the use of ICTs." docs-library.unoda.org/Open-Ended_W...
docs-library.unoda.org
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Cristiano Lima-Strong @viacristiano.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
New: The FTC struck settlements with two major data brokers in what could be one of Lina Khan's last big actions on data privacy as chair. Spoke to the head of their consumer protection bureau about the cases: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
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Konstantinos Komaitis PhD @kkomaitis.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
#Russia and #China won big with the #Cybercrime Treaty, which is about to become a reality for governments around the world. That reality is filled with dangers for human rights, for activism and for citizens being able to exercise some basic democratic rights. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/is-a...
lawfaremedia.org
Is Anyone Happy With the UN Cybercrime Convention?
The new UN cybercrime convention left everyone unhappy. But is that necessarily the sign of a good compromise?
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
This report is truly groundbreaking and a must-read resource. An incredible addition to the TNR work stream. A huge congrats to all those involved!
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Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
The transnational repression research agenda keeps growing!
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Fionnuala NÍ Aoláin KC (Hons) @niaolainf.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Press freedom under assault globally & the Israeli crackdown is particularly notable. Critical thinking in public space is being challenged .. as Haaretz, is strangled financially +If you don’t hear about the occupation it can be ignored, if Palestinian rights not discussed they don’t exist either.
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Evan Greer @evangreer.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
If you think tech advocacy should be fearless and rooted in justice rather than pandering to billionaires @fightforthefuture.org could really use your donations right now. We’ve already lost major funders because of our principled stands on Palestine and LGBTQ issues www.fightforthefuture.org/donate
fightforthefuture.org
Donate
Donate We rely on donations from everyday people just like you to fund our strategic activism. Please make a recurring donation to our organization so we can continue to fight for your digital rights....
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Konstantinos Komaitis PhD @kkomaitis.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
It’s now beyond any reasonable doubt that @bsky.app is doing things right! 👇👇👇👇👇👇 China proceeds to block it!
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
The purchase seems to be in violation of Biden’s EO on spyware, and bodes poorly for what’s to come. Governments should see this technology for what it is: not only a human rights disaster, but a national security nightmare.
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Allie Funk @alfunk.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Excellent new piece from my colleague @grantbkr.bsky.social about rising restrictions on VPNs - more sophisticated blocking, forced removal from app stores, and new laws criminalizing use. He also lays out what we can do in response. freedomhouse.org/article/anot...
freedomhouse.org
Another Door Closes: Authoritarians Expand Restrictions on Virtual Private Networks
To access the internet, users in unfree countries rely on circumvention tools that are increasingly targeted by repressive rulers. Democratic governments and technology companies can do more to keep t...
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pielemeier.bsky.social @pielemeier.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Breaking news from @thegni.bsky.social's Learning Forum happening now in DC. GNI Vice Chair @usamakhilji.bsky.social reports that @bsky.app was blocked earlier today/yesterday in Pakistan. Curious if anyone can confirm & to know if this represents the largest country-level block of Bluesky to date?
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