Become an Internet Advocate

The Internet has radically transformed our lives for the better. Because of it, there are virtually infinite opportunities to innovate and work together for the collective good.

We owe its success to a foundation of five properties—what the Internet needs to work for everyone. We call this the “Internet way of networking” and we can’t take it for granted.

What makes the Internet great also makes it vulnerable. Governments and businesses are increasingly making decisions that could impact the Internet, and they might not even know it. We must protect the Internet from bad decisions—or we risk losing it altogether.

It’s up to all of us to protect and defend what the Internet needs to exist and thrive. We cannot let the Internet become a splinternet.

How Can I Advocate for the Internet?

We need your help. If you have five minutes, five hours, or even more, you can promote, protect, and defend an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet. We are stronger together. Always.

Here’s how you can help:

Flag

Spot a legislative threat, business decision, or technology development that could undermine the open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet.

Let us know.

Analyze

Use the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit to understand how an issue could support or threaten what the Internet needs to exist and thrive.

Learn how to analyze a threat.

Strategize

Identify the advocacy goal and form a strategy to promote, protect, and defend the Internet.

Start with SMART advocacy goals.

Together

Work with a global movement of like-minded Internet champions to amplify our impact.

Become an Internet Society member.

Advocacy Resources

Global Encryption Coalition

Its mission is to promote and defend encryption in key countries and multilateral fora where it is under threat. The GEC also supports efforts by companies to offer encrypted services to their users. (external)

How to Conduct an Internet Impact Brief

Find explanations of critical properties and enablers of the Internet and a step-by-step guide to conducting and writing your own Internet impact brief.

How to Develop an Internet Impact Brief

This course provides an overview of how the critical properties and enablers of the Internet can help you conduct an assessment and write your own Internet Impact Brief.

Internet Fragmentation Advocacy Toolkit

Assets for people to advocate for the open, global Internet in a way that can be adjusted to their national and policy contexts. It includes key messaging, media assets, and advocacy letter templates.

Internet Fragmentation: An Explainer

Internet fragmentation is the division of the Internet into isolated networks. Learn more and explore the global threats in this evolving landscape.

Internet Governance

The Internet Governance course provides an overview of Internet governance, touching on key areas such as its history, policy principles, actors and stakeholders, infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, multilingualism, and cybersecurity.

Internet Impact Brief: 2021 Indian Intermediary Guidelines and the Internet Experience in India

This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit to assess how the 2021 Indian Intermediary Guidelines may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to thrive as an open, globally connected, secure and trustworthy resource for all.

Internet Impact Brief: Canada’s Proposed Online Harms Legislation and the Internet

This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the Canada’s proposed online harms bill may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to thrive as an open, globally-connected, secure, and trustworthy resource for all.

Internet Impact Brief: How the US EARN IT Act Threatens Security, Confidentiality, and Safety Online

Read how the US EARN IT Act poses an existential threat to the Internet safety and security by preventing service providers from using end-to-end encryption.

Our Members in Action

Here’s how some Internet Society members are advocating for an Internet that benefits everyone. They’re using the four-step advocacy model: