Open Technology Fund

Request for Proposals: Security Lab OTF is soliciting proposals from Information Security professionals and organizations to provide services to our Security Lab. Apply by March 16, 2026.

Are you a cybersecurity expert that wants to improve the security of privacy-enhancing and censorship circumvention technologies that are used in authoritarian contexts?

Apply to join @opentechfund.bsky.social’s Security Lab as a partner by March 16!

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@opentechfund.bsky.social’s Security Lab ensures internet freedom tools are secure for users facing authoritarian censorship and surveillance.

Learn more about the Lab and access the Request for Proposals:
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@opentechfund.bsky.social's Security Lab partner @assuredab.bsky.social recently audited @engagemedia.org’s Cinemata platform to ensure it’s as safe as possible for users.

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@opentechfund.bsky.social is accepting applications to join our Security Lab until March 16, 2026.

Learn more:
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@opentechfund.bsky.social's Security Lab ensures internet freedom tools are secure for users facing authoritarian censorship and surveillance.
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@opentechfund.bsky.social's Security Lab partner @srlabs.bsky.social recently audited LEAP applications to ensure they are as safe as possible for users.

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Tehran tried to kill the internet, but U.S. legislation helped Iranians stay connected Three years ago, in the wake of the murder by Iranian “morality police” of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, the Iranian people flooded the streets to stand in opposition to their authoritarian regime.

Senator Marsha Blackburn and Representative Michael McCaul in @washtimes.bsky.social:

@opentechfund.bsky.social's tools are among the only sources securely providing Iranians with the information they need ... Without these, they would be left in the dark.

www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/ja...

@opentechfund.bsky.social accepts applications on a rolling basis to our Internet Freedom Fund in support of innovative, technology-focused projects that counter authoritarian #censorship and #surveillance.

Learn more and apply:
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@opentechfund.bsky.social's Security Lab partner Radically Open Security recently audited the Tor Browser's migration to Firefox’s Extended Support Release version 140 to ensure the best security possible for users.

Learn more and access the full audit report:
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@opentechfund.bsky.social's Security Lab partner 7ASecurity recently audited @greatfire.org's FreeBrowser to ensure the best security possible for users.

Learn more and access the full audit report:
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ICYMI: Watch @opentechfund.bsky.social President Laura Cunningham speak at a @helsinkicomm.bsky.social event on what Russia’s MAX app means for the Kremlin’s evolving model of information controls.

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BRIEFING—The MAX App: Russia’s Pocket-Sized Approach to Mass Surveillance Russia is pioneering a novel, low-cost approach to digital censorship and surveillance. In lieu of a centralized system to block unwanted online activity, Moscow is pairing old-school authoritarian ta...

For more information and to stream live, please visit: www.csce.gov/press-releas... (3/3)

Panelists Laura Cunningham @opentechfund.bsky.social, @jshermcyber.bsky.social, and Anastasiya Zhyrmont of @accessnow.org will discuss the potential for Russia to export this surveillance paradigm further beyond its borders and strategies to circumvent and counter this approach to repression. (2/3)

UPCOMING BRIEFING—The MAX App: Russia’s Pocket-Sized Approach to Mass Surveillance
📅Dec. 2
🕑2pm
🏛️Rayburn 2358-C
Join us to explore the implications of Russia’s approach to digital surveillance, including prospects for access to the open internet in Russia & occupied Ukraine. (1/3)

@opentechfund.bsky.social's Security Lab partner NimKat’s recent audit of PiRogue Tool Suite found that the platform includes several security enhancements — including robust protection for wireless networks.

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China’s creepiest export surge Countries are queuing to buy the tools and techniques of the CCP’s security state

New @economist.com article cites @interseclab.bsky.social 's @opentechfund.bsky.social-supported research into how Chinese firm Geedge Networks exports internet-control technology.
www.economist.com/internationa...

@opentechfund.bsky.social's Security Lab partner 7ASecurity’s recent audit of AmneziaVPN found that the #OpenSource tool is securely designed.

Learn more and access the full report:
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@opentechfund.bsky.social's Security Lab partner 0xche's recent audit of Mailvelope found that the #OpenSource tool is securely designed.

Learn more and access the full audit report:
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Why the Open Technology Fund Is Worth Saving The government-funded nonprofit has helped millions living under authoritarianism access the internet safely.

An op-ed in @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social by former Congressional staffer Grant Mullins tells the history of how Rep. McCaul & Sen. Blackburn championed the Open Technology Fund Authorization Act -- and what we've been able to accomplish since its enactment.

thedispatch.com/article/open...

Anything but safe: Using VPN can bear immense risks – DW – 09/20/2025 A new study reveals that popular VPN connections provide less safety than widely believed. The findings are alarming, especially for users in authoritarian states.

"Users have a false sense of security because a nation-state threat actor can see everything the users of these products are doing," @opentechfund.sky.social-supported Benjamin Mixon-Baca to @news.dw.com on privacy & security issues he found in widely-used commercial VPNs.

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“This is very frightening,” @interseclab.bsky.social's Marla Rivera explained the technical details of new @opentechfund.bsky.social - supported research into Geedge Networks’ censorship and surveillance technologies to @wired.com.

ICYM: @opentechfund.bsky.social-supported research from Ben Mixon-Baca sheds light on the egregious transparency and security vulnerabilities of 16 commercial VPN apps linked to the CCP that put more than 700 million users at risk of authoritarian surveillance.
www.opentech.fund/news/who-own...

New @opentechfund.bsky.social-supported research from @interseclab.bsky.social and partners uncovers how Chinese company Geedge Networks is exporting a comprehensive, turnkey surveillance and censorship system worldwide.

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(2/2)

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New research from @opentechfund.bsky.social-supported @interseclab.bsky.social & partners uncovers how a Chinese company exports tools for mass & precision surveillance & censorship—transforming how quickly & easily states can control digital communications (1/2).

interseclab.org/wp-content/u...

Leaked files show a Chinese company is exporting the Great Firewall’s censorship technology Geedge Networks is providing censorship capabilities to foreign governments, including those in Myanmar, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan

As part of a consortium of researchers and journalists, I spent the better part of a year digging into leaked documents from Chinese security company Geedge, which plays a pivotal role exporting the Great Firewall around the world: www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/15c699a...

Massive Leak Shows How a Chinese Company Is Exporting the Great Firewall to the World Geedge Networks, a company with ties to the founder of China’s mass censorship infrastructure, is selling its censorship and surveillance systems to at least four other countries in Asia and Africa.

We gave a interview about our new research The Internet Coup to @wired.com. Check their article on www.wired.com/story/geedge...

New Research: Our investigation indicates that the Chinese company Geedge Networks is exporting mass surveillance and censorship technology to Myanmar, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia. #GreatFirewallExport (1/5)

@opentechfund.bsky.social’s Security Lab partner Radically Open Security’s recent audit of Tails found that the operating system is well designed from a security perspective.

Learn more and access the full report:
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New research from @opentechfund.bsky.social’s ICFP Fellow Benjamin Mixon-Baca includes analysis of 16 commercial VPN apps that are popular in authoritarian contexts.

Learn about their suspicious operations, security vulnerabilities, and more:
www.opentech.fund/news/who-own...