After the war in Lebanon forcibly displaced 1.2 million people out of their houses, our team went to schools turned into displacement shelters and spoke to families about their needs in terms of connectivity. Students couldn’t connect to their classes, families could not verify what was happening, and phishing messages were circulating, disguised as aid.

In response, we ran digital safety training sessions, answered questions, and kept a direct line open through our Digital Safety Helpdesk for those who needed support after we left.

This is one example of what your support makes possible.

At the same time, we have long fielded calls from journalists and media agencies trying to understand internet disruptions and organizations trying to protect their staff. The questions kept coming because the situation kept changing, and because there were very few places to turn for informed, independent answers.

These individual donations help us pursue rapid emergency response efforts and make this kind of work more sustainable. Unlike traditional funding models, which can sometimes involve more rigid structures, individual support often gives us greater flexibility to respond quickly as needs evolve.

In a region of over 400 million people, independent organizations equipped to do this work are rare. Your donations help us remain on the ground, training and working to empower our communities to fight digital threats on their own in real time.

This work belongs to everyone who believes the internet should be free and safe. Join us.