Application Bans

Why Does It Matter?

Governments have a duty to keep citizens safe, but unilateral actions like application bans undermine the ability of anyone, anywhere in the world to access all the Internet’s content and resources.

This has an added impact on women and gender minorities who especially need access to safe, secure online spaces for health, education, social connection, and employment. If the government bans the service you rely on, even out of a valid security concern, such as with Tik Tok, it could put you out of work, or break important social connections. Or if you lose access to a video platform, it could mean you can no longer have a private conversation with your doctor.

You might circumvent the ban by using a VPN, which means the ban doesn’t even mitigate privacy and security concerns.

And these bans are often done for political reasons, undermining free expression. The Nigerian government banned Twitter for almost 7 months in 2021 because the company moderated a Tweet from its president. TikTok has been banned completely in India, and it’s been proposed for the US. 

We build a stronger Internet by working together and holding companies to the same high standards of privacy and security—not by putting up walls.