On 14 May 2020, the Global Encryption Coalition (GEC) launched to promote and defend the use of strong encryption around the world.
Over the last five years, Internet Society chapters have played a critical role in helping ensure the success of the GEC and in defending encryption around the world.
93 of the Internet Society’s 110 active chapters are also GEC members. Within the GEC, chapters identify threats to encryption in their countries, lead local advocacy, and build support for strong encryption.
Like other GEC members, the chapters also support international advocacy efforts, helping to bring global pressure to country-level policy debates.
Through signing on to an open letter, doing media outreach, and promoting the voices of other GEC members, chapters have stepped up to promote and defend encryption around the world. Here are just some of their stories:
2020: Internet Society Chapters Raise Encryption Awareness
With an escalation in hackings over the past decade, breaches in our private data are of ubiquitous meaning now more than ever and, for this, encryption is key.”
In 2020, after taking an Internet Society training course on encryption, 139 trainees from 66 chapters developed local initiatives to amplify awareness of the critical role encryption plays in our everyday lives.
In a blog post, Ghana Chapter member Theorose Elikplim Dzineku wrote that “encryption helps protect private information, sensitive data, and can enhance the security of communication between two parties … Using encryption tools helps individuals keep communications secret and protect swapping activities of personal tales with a friend or transacting important business with a client.”
Many trainees also shared Spanish-language resources. Highlights include:
2021: Belgium Chapter’s Advocacy Win
In mid-2021, the Belgian government proposed a draft law on data retention in electronic communications that threatened users’ privacy and security. The draft law would force companies to decrypt end-to-end encrypted messages whenever requested by law enforcement. Given the detrimental effects this would have on the security and trustworthiness of the Internet, the Internet Society and the Belgium Chapter sprang into action, mobilizing a wide-ranging campaign to convince the Belgian government to remove the anti-encryption text from the draft law.
Alongside a GEC-led open letter that garnered 107 signatures and significant media attention, the Belgium Chapter and other local allies conducted a comprehensive media outreach program, resulting in at least 40 articles in local media. The community’s work really paid off: in October, the legislation was delayed. Two months later, at a Federal Council of Ministers meeting, the government approved a version of the law that didn’t include the requirement to decrypt end-to-end encrypted messages.
2022: African Chapters Lead on Global Encryption Day
I have never experienced such an intense day that rekindles the pride of being an ISOC member … and chapter officer. Bravo everyone.”
During the second annual Global Encryption Day, held on 21 October 2022, Internet Society chapters held 36 encryption-related events around the world. Many of these events were held by the Internet Society’s African chapters, including:
- The Nigeria Chapter raising awareness at local market with their “Encryption Roadshow”
- A media blitz by the Liberia Chapter
- A policy roundtable organized by the Burundi Chapter
Multiple other in-person events and webinars were held worldwide—vital tools for promoting and understanding the importance of strong encryption.
2023: Chapters Help Secure Key Concession on UK Online Safety Bill
In 2023, the United Kingdom passed its Online Safety Act, which contained the power to compel platforms to conduct mass surveillance by scanning content using technologies that would undermine the security and privacy provided by end-to-end encryption.
The UK government recognized that citizens’ security and privacy would be undermined shortly before passing the law, stating publicly that it does not intend to use its power until a safe technology existed for them to do so.
The sustained advocacy efforts of pro-encryption advocates—including Internet Society chapters from around the world—no doubt contributed to this admission. Twelve chapters signed two open letters which demanded that the UK government protect encryption. Their diverse voices helped bring international attention to the encryption threat and one of the open letters was used as evidence in the UK parliament. Within the country, the UK England Chapter took a leading role in the advocacy campaign, including holding webinars on the Online Safety Bill to raise awareness of the community’s concerns.
2024: Australia Chapter Stands Up for Encryption and Online Safety
In 2024, the Australian government held a statutory review of the Online Safety Act 2021. This act could lead to companies being forced to undermine end-to-end encryption. The Australia Chapter submitted comments during the review urging the commissioner against approving any codes or standards that would compel companies to undermine end-to-end encrypted services and the security they provide to citizens and the Internet itself.
The Australia Chapter has been a longtime advocate for encryption. In 2018, the chapter jointly held an expert’s panel on encryption at the Australian parliament, alongside the Internet Society and leading academics.
2025: Sweden Chapter Fights for Encryption
If you introduce those backdoors, they cannot only be used by the police to look at the communications of criminals and other bad actors. It can also be used by bad actors to look at what good actors are doing.”
The Swedish parliament is currently debating legislation that threatens to undermine the use of end-to-end encryption. The Sweden Chapter is taking action to protect strong encryption against this threat.
Early in 2025, the Chapter created a joint statement against the proposed bill. In April, the chapter sent a joint letter, signed by over 230 organizations, companies, and academics, to members of the Swedish parliament calling on them to reject the legislation. The signatories included 26 Internet Society chapters!
The Sweden Chapter also conducted successful media outreach, with chapter member Frederik Lindeberg being interviewed on national radio. All of these activities are vital to apply pressure on the Swedish parliament to make the right decision when they debate the legislation in summer 2025.
Looking Forward
These are just a few examples of the many amazing ways that Internet Society chapters lead the way on advocating for encryption. Whether on the global stage or in their local communities, our chapters are standing up for strong encryption wherever they are. Thank you for your amazing work.
There are many threats to encryption on the horizon, and we at the Internet Society are proud to be able to work with our chapters to keep the Internet secure and trustworthy.
Learn more:
Image © Internet Society, © Oscar González, © Center for Democracy and Technology, © Tuta, © Wired, © Internet Australia