Now that the FCC has voted to rescind #netneutrality protections, grassroots organizations are looking for ways to monitor and combat companies like Comcast and Verizon from engaging in internet censorship or surveillance, or from tampering with internet performance. The Fight For The Future (FFTF) organization released a statement on January 23rd encouraging internet users to consider a new app called Ooniprobe.
Ooniprobe, now available on iTunes and Google, is anopen source tool developed by the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), part of the Tor Project.
The app makes it simple to:
- Measure the speed and performance of your network
- Measure video streaming performance
- Check whether and how websites are blocked
- Find systems that could be responsible for censorship or surveillance
The app tests over 1,200 websites, including Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR) and WhatsApp. You can decide how long to run the test, but the default is 90 seconds and would test between 10 and 20 websites depending on bandwidth. Links to blocked websites are listed in red, while available sites are green.
Service providers, sometimes controlled by the government, don’t always shutdown the internet entirely — for instance, Facebook.com might be inaccessible while CNN.com still works.
The intent of the app is to increase transparency of information controls around the world.
“Not only we will be able to gather more data and more evidence, but we will be able to engage and bring the issue of censorship to the attention of more people,”
Arturo Filastò, chief developer for the Ooniprobe app
Please note, the rescinded #netneutrality rules are not in effect, yet, California Senator Kamala Harris posted this morning on Twitter that we need one more Senator to overturn the FCC’s decision to rescind #netneutrality.
Unfortunately, the battle for net neutrality can possibly rage on in Congress and in the courts for months or years, but in the meantime there are things we can do to protect our democracy.
Are you concerned by the loss of #netneutrality? Drop a comment in the section below.
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