January 2021 - ooni-talk - lists.torproject.org

NEW RiseupVPN test in OONI Probe Mobile App
by Maria Xynou 28 Jan '21

28 Jan '21

Hello, We're excited to share that the latest OONI Probe version features a brand new test for RiseupVPN! You can now check whether RiseupVPN works on your network. Learn all about this test here: https://ooni.org/nettest/riseupvpn/ To run the new RiseupVPN test, update to the latest version (2.9.1) of OONI Probe Mobile: https://ooni.org/install/mobile All RiseupVPN test results from around the world are openly published in near real-time: https://explorer.ooni.org/search?since=2020-12-30&test_name=riseupvpn Warm thanks to the folks from the LEAP collective for developing this new test! <3 Cheers, Maria (on behalf of the OONI team). -- Maria Xynou Research & Partnerships Director Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) https://ooni.org/ PGP Key Fingerprint: 2DC8 AFB6 CA11 B552 1081 FBDE 2131 B3BE 70CA 417E

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Signal blocked in Iran
by Maria Xynou 25 Jan '21

25 Jan '21

Hello, Iran seems to have started blocking Signal today. This is suggested through OONI measurements testing signal.org in Iran: https://explorer.ooni.org/search?since=2020-12-27&domain=signal.org&probe_c… While the testing of signal.org in Iran was previously successful, today every measurement collected so far suggests potential blocking. You can continue to monitor the accessibility of signal.org in Iran through the above link (which openly shares OONI data collected in real-time from Iran). ~ Maria. -- Maria Xynou Research & Partnerships Director Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) https://ooni.org/ PGP Key Fingerprint: 2DC8 AFB6 CA11 B552 1081 FBDE 2131 B3BE 70CA 417E

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[New Report] Uganda internet blocks & nationwide internet outage amid 2021 general election
by Maria Xynou 22 Jan '21

22 Jan '21

Hello, Today, in collaboration with DefendDefenders, Defenders Protection Initiative, and IODA, we co-published a new research report examining the recent internet disruption in Uganda amid its 2021 general election. Our report is available here: https://ooni.org/post/2021-uganda-general-election-blocks-and-outage/ We based our investigation on: * OONI measurements collected from Uganda: https://explorer.ooni.org/search?until=2021-01-23&since=2020-12-23&probe_cc… * OONI experiments using the `miniooni` research client (which we plan to eventually integrate into the OONI Probe apps) * Public data sources monitoring internet outages (IODA data, Google traffic data, Oracle Internet Intelligence data, and CloudFlare Radar data) In the days leading up to Uganda’s 2021 general election, ISPs blocked access to the Google Play Store (hampering people’s ability to download apps), as well as to a number of social media apps (including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram) and websites (such as facebook.com) – regardless of OTT tax payment. Access to certain circumvention tool websites (such as protonvpn.com) was blocked as well, though both Tor and Psiphon worked throughout the election period. Starting from the eve of Uganda’s 2021 general election (in the evening of 13th January 2021), Uganda was disconnected from the internet entirely. The country experienced a 4-day internet outage (which included election day), as shown through several public data sources: Internet Outage Detection and Analysis (IODA), Oracle’s Internet Intelligence Map, Cloudflare Radar, and Google traffic data. In our report, we also share network-level analysis of the internet outage based on IODA data. The internet outage is further corroborated by the absence of OONI measurements from Uganda during this time period (since OONI Probe requires internet connectivity to perform tests), as well as by the drastic drop in Tor users and Psiphon users during this period. Even though internet connectivity in Uganda was restored on 18th January 2021, access to social media and circumvention platforms remained blocked. Notably, Ugandan ISPs only appear to have started blocking access to YouTube on 18th January 2021, even though the platform is not included on the OTT list of taxed platforms. You can continue to monitor ongoing internet censorship in Uganda though OONI data (which is openly published in real-time): https://explorer.ooni.org/search?until=2021-01-23&since=2020-12-23&probe_cc… We thank OONI Probe users in Uganda who contributed measurements, making this study possible. Best, Maria. -- Maria Xynou Research & Partnerships Director Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) https://ooni.org/ PGP Key Fingerprint: 2DC8 AFB6 CA11 B552 1081 FBDE 2131 B3BE 70CA 417E

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Uganda elections and testing
by Maria Xynou 13 Jan '21

13 Jan '21

Hi folks, Leading up to Uganda's elections tomorrow, a number of social media and VPN platforms appear to have been blocked (even when the OTT is paid). We've shared relevant OONI Probe testing instructions through this Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/OpenObservatory/status/1349064291480166415 If you know people in Uganda, please share this with them. This thread contains information for: * Running all OONI Probe tests (including those that measure WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Psiphon, and Tor) * Testing social media websites, VPN sites, and Ugandan websites (through relevant OONI buttons) * Testing the Google Play Store and App Store * Limiting website testing based on (a) websites of your choice, (b) specific website categories (e.g. news media, circumvention, communication tools, etc.) * Downloading the OONI Probe APK (if you're unable to install OONI Probe from the Play Store) In all cases, please ensure that your VPN is turned off when running OONI Probe (to help ensure more accurate test results). All OONI Probe test results from Uganda (unless the user has opted-out) are openly published here: https://explorer.ooni.org/search?until=2021-01-14&since=2020-12-14&probe_cc… Happy to address any questions. Thanks, Maria. -- Maria Xynou Research & Partnerships Director Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) https://ooni.org/ PGP Key Fingerprint: 2DC8 AFB6 CA11 B552 1081 FBDE 2131 B3BE 70CA 417E

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Happy 2021!
by Maria Xynou 01 Jan '21

01 Jan '21

Dear Oonitarians, Happy New Year! We wish you and your family good health and happiness, and an amazing 2021! We hope 2021 brings more joy, love, peace, health, and social justice to the world. We feel very grateful for being in this community with you. And with your support, we're excited to keep fighting internet censorship around the world. Thank you for all that you do! Happy holidays! Love, OONI team. -- Maria Xynou Research & Partnerships Director Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) https://ooni.org/ PGP Key Fingerprint: 2DC8 AFB6 CA11 B552 1081 FBDE 2131 B3BE 70CA 417E

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