The Internet Freedom Fund Program is currently accepting applications to fund creative initiatives related to internet freedom, such as research, technology development, digital security, and conferences.

The Internet Freedom Fund is the main avenue through which the Open Technology Fund (OTF) supports global projects aimed at advancing internet freedom.

Categories

Technology Development
OTF funds the creation of innovative internet freedom technologies, from initial prototypes to full deployment, and backs key infrastructure projects that support the internet freedom and human rights communities. Applications may include:
- Developing new, open-source tools for circumventing censorship
- Enhancing existing open-source internet freedom technologies by improving security, usability, and adaptability
- Creating methods to redistribute content to bypass government firewalls
- Building next-generation tools
- Raising security standards, implementing quality assurance, and best practices in core infrastructure projects
- Enhancing the accessibility and usability of current projects

Applied Research
OTF supports applied research in the internet freedom space, focusing on identifying and countering censorship, and studying how specific types of content are targeted to assess threats to internet freedom. Applications might include:
- Research that monitors and analyzes real-time threats to internet freedom
- Exploring new methods or improvements to tools for circumventing censorship
- Efforts to deepen the understanding of the internet freedom community’s roles in keeping the internet open and free
- User research focusing on those living under oppressive surveillance and censorship, identifying their needs and how technology can address them, as well as improving tool usability and localization

Improving the Digital Security Ecosystem
In response to increasingly coordinated censorship and surveillance tactics used by authoritarian regimes, OTF supports improvements to the global digital security ecosystem. This involves infrastructure-wide initiatives to help practitioners, threat intelligence researchers, and others make systematic changes that enhance digital security. Proposals should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of ongoing efforts and show how they will contribute to strengthening the global or regional digital security ecosystem.
Note: OTF does not fund one-off training, training of trainers, or general organizational capacity building. However, in some cases, OTF’s Rapid Response Fund provides emergency digital security training for those facing immediate threats. The Internet Freedom Fund focuses on large-scale, ecosystem-wide digital security solutions.

Events and Community Convenings
OTF funds initiatives that bring together internet freedom communities to enhance collaboration, share knowledge, and cultivate trust. These gatherings help foster a diverse, global network of internet freedom leaders and collaborators. Applications can include:
- Research and development meetings to improve collaboration in privacy, circumvention technologies, and digital security
- Community-organized events that identify needs, share resources, and provide insights into censorship, surveillance, and digital security challenges.