Measure internet censorship

You can now easily measure and contribute data on internet censorship from your own devices.

The Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) has released OONI Probe, a free and open-source software tool designed to measure internet censorship globally. Available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, OONI Probe allows users to test website blocking, network speed (via the NDT test developed with M-Lab), and the accessibility of messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram. The tool also checks the functionality of circumvention tools. Upon running tests, users' anonymized results are automatically published in near real-time to a public dataset, contributing to transparency in internet censorship. OONI aims to build the world's largest open dataset on internet censorship through user contributions.

OONI Probe democratizes the collection of internet censorship data, shifting the responsibility from centralized research bodies to individual users. This distributed model of data generation increases the breadth and depth of censorship measurements, potentially making it harder for blocking regimes to obscure their activities. The open-source nature of the tool and the real-time public dataset foster transparency and allow for independent verification of censorship claims.

The widespread adoption of OONI Probe could empower citizens and researchers with verifiable data, influencing policy discussions and international pressure on governments that engage in internet censorship. By standardizing measurements across different regions and platforms, the project aims to create a robust, global picture of network interference, which can be used to advocate for digital rights and internet freedom.