By Elizabeth Shaughnessy (Director of Digital Programming) & Stephanie Siy (Senior Director, Field & Impact Programs)
Recent years have shown a worrying increase in digital protectionism. Not to be confused with digital protection, the information security and privacy of humanitarians and the people they serve, digital protectionism refers to the barriers that governments put in place to restrict cross-border data flows. Examples include web censorship, onerous cyber security requirements, data localization, increased control over internet service providers, and internet shutdowns.
When disaster strikes, timely, accurate, and trustworthy information is critical for people affected by crisis. Information allows people to get in touch with their family members, find services available nearby, and stay informed of updates. For NetHope Members, information allows organizations to monitor the safety of their staff and ensure continuity of their programs. Access to the internet and reliable connectivity underpins the ability for this information to flow.
Most recently, NetHope Members’ ability to deliver programs and communicate with staff and communities was severely disrupted during the 11-day communications blackout in Bangladesh in July, following protests across the country. Fixed and mobile broadband were down, and telecommunications such as VSAT and Starlink are already restricted, making finding alternatives a challenge. Another shutdown occurred briefly in early August, but internet was restored shortly after. Unfortunately, internet shutdowns are on the rise.
The blackout in Bangladesh and subsequent challenges are part of a concerning broader trend of governments increasing protection over their digital infrastructure, in an effort to limit external influences and exert sovereignty. For example, NetHope, alongside other aid agencies, continue to be blocked from delivering equipment in Gaza in the ongoing conflict. Despite catastrophic floods in Pakistan in 2022, international humanitarian organizations, including NetHope, were limited in their ability to respond, with restrictions on the importation of ICT equipment. Satellite services and equipment remain heavily restricted or banned in several countries, including a number of countries experiencing emergencies in recent years.
National barriers on data flows continue to grow, but new and emerging technologies stress test the limits of digital protectionism. Artificial intelligence (AI) is used by governments to influence the opinion of citizens beyond borders. According to the World Economic Forum, AI-enabled mis/disinformation significantly increases the likelihood of a global catastrophe alongside extreme weather events, critical change to earth systems, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, and natural resource shortages. Beyond AI, the recent CrowdStrike update error that crashed millions of Windows systems worldwide highlighted concerns of the vulnerability of interconnected global digital infrastructure, and is reminiscent of severe outages in Africa earlier this year.
For NetHope and other foreign NGOs working to support the most vulnerable communities in some of the hardest to reach places, these are growing challenges when conducting a digital-first response in countries experiencing emergencies. In environments subject to increased digital protectionism, information is indeed aid, and those who go without often suffer the most.
