Governments worldwide are increasingly restricting internet access, impacting free speech, education, and economies. In 2020 alone, over 260 million people were affected by 93 major internet shutdowns, costing the global economy $4.01 billion. Here's how censorship works and how you can fight back:

• Common Blocking Methods: DNS/IP blocking, deep packet inspection, speed throttling, and full internet blackouts.

• Impacts: Limits free speech, disrupts education, and causes billions in economic losses.

• Bypass Tools: VPNs, decentralized networks (like MASQ), Tor, and encrypted DNS.

• Risks: Legal penalties in some countries (e.g., fines or imprisonment for VPN use).

Quick Tip: Protect your online access by using trusted privacy tools, enabling DNS-over-HTTPS, and combining multiple methods for better security.

Read on to learn how censorship works, its societal effects, and practical ways to stay connected.

6 Free Ways to Bypass Censorship

Common Government Blocking Methods

Governments use various technical methods to restrict online access, ranging from DNS manipulation to deep packet inspection. Here's a closer look at some of the key techniques used to block and filter content.

DNS and IP Address Blocks

DNS and IP blocking are among the most common tools for internet censorship. DNS blocking, initially introduced in 1997 to combat spam, works by intercepting DNS requests and either returning errors or redirecting users to government-controlled pages [2][3].

IP blocking, on the other hand, can have a much broader impact. Blocking just 10,000 IP addresses can disrupt access to 204 million domains - about 80% of the web [4]. This method often leads to unintended consequences, as seen in Russia:

A similar incident occurred in Austria in August 2022. Courts ordered ISPs to block 11 Cloudflare IP addresses, which inadvertently disrupted thousands of legitimate websites for two days [4].

Content Filtering Systems

Content filtering allows for more precise control compared to outright blocking. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) is a common tool in this category, analyzing internet traffic to block specific keywords, images, or communication patterns [5]. This method can be implemented at different levels:

Speed Limits and Internet Blackouts

When blocking and filtering aren't enough, authorities often resort to throttling, a tactic that deliberately slows internet speeds to make services nearly unusable [6]. This can be applied across large areas or targeted at specific high-bandwidth services like video streaming.

"I would be very, very careful if I were a government about arbitrarily [implementing] simple solutions to complex problems." - Eric Schmidt, Google's chairman [3]

Freedom House reports that 40 out of 70 countries assessed use website blocking [4]. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has criticized such practices, stating that they "amount to arbitrary interference with the rights of owners of such websites" [4].

These methods represent just one side of the battle over internet freedom. In upcoming sections, we'll look at countermeasures designed to overcome these restrictions.

Effects of Internet Blocks

Internet censorship doesn't just limit access; it disrupts society, commerce, and communication on a broad scale. These restrictions impact free speech, business operations, and social development.

Limits on Speech and Information

Government-enforced internet blocks interfere with the fundamental right to access and share information. This becomes especially apparent during times of social unrest:

Even beyond direct government actions, the fear of censorship can lead people to self-censor. Studies reveal that when individuals sense restrictions, they are far less likely to discuss sensitive issues or sign petitions using their real names [11]. This chilling effect on open dialogue highlights the urgent need to address censorship.

Business and Social Costs

The economic damage caused by internet censorship is staggering. A report estimated that internet shutdowns cost the global economy at least $2.4 billion in GDP between mid-2015 and mid-2016 [9]. These losses ripple through local and global markets, as shown in the examples below:

The social repercussions are just as troubling, particularly in education. For example, in Nebraska, excessive internet filtering blocked access to resources like National Geographic and restricted research on global government systems [12]. Over-filtering also disproportionately affects marginalized groups:

• 64.8% of students reported no access to LGBTQ+ information in school resources [13]

• Only 12% received comprehensive LGBTQ+ health education [13]

• 42.3% of queer youth felt very uncomfortable discussing sexuality with teachers [13]

"I thought this would be a substantial contribution to people's understanding because it shows how countries are shooting their economies in the foot through shutdowns."
– Darrell West, Director of the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings [9]

These economic and social challenges underscore the need for effective strategies to safeguard online freedom.

Tools to Bypass Internet Blocks

As governments ramp up censorship efforts, people need effective tools to stay connected to the open internet. Modern privacy tools rely on encryption, decentralized systems, and clever routing methods to help users navigate restrictions. Below, we’ll dive into how VPNs, decentralized networks, and other tools can help restore online access.

VPNs and Decentralized Networks

Traditional VPNs can struggle in regions with heavy restrictions, but decentralized VPNs (dVPNs) bring some extra advantages:

• Peer-to-peer networks: No central authority to block.

• Distributed systems: Harder for censors to shut down.

• User-operated nodes: Keeps the network dynamic and flexible.

• No single point of failure: More resilient to attacks.

• Multi-hop routing: Makes tracking traffic much harder.

MASQ: Privacy Through Decentralization

MASQ is a standout example of a tool designed to resist censorship effectively. It combines several privacy-focused features:

• Multi-hop routing: Adds three layers of indirection to hide user activity [15].

• Clandestine routing: Prevents detection by surveillance systems [16].

• TLS encryption: Ensures data security even if exit nodes are compromised [15].

By encrypting and routing user requests through multiple nodes, MASQ ensures privacy. This makes it especially useful in regions where using anti-censorship tools can lead to severe consequences [15].

Additional Privacy Tools

For a stronger privacy setup, combining multiple tools is often the best approach. Here’s a quick breakdown of some options:

"I think it really basically comes down to Tor and everybody else. Tor gives you anonymity; nobody else does." – Eva Galperin, global policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation [17]

When choosing privacy tools, keep these tips in mind:

• Stick to trusted sources: Download tools only from official websites or reliable mirrors.

• Know the rules: Check local laws to ensure you’re compliant.

• Layer your defenses: Using multiple tools together can enhance your security.

For those living in heavily censored areas, decentralized solutions can be a lifeline. As online restrictions grow, these tools play a crucial role in safeguarding access to information and protecting digital rights [14].

Risks When Using Privacy Tools

Privacy tools can provide access to restricted content, but they also come with serious risks. It's essential for users, especially in countries with strict censorship laws, to be aware of these challenges to protect their safety and privacy.

Legal Risks and Enforcement

In countries with heavy internet restrictions, using privacy tools like VPNs can lead to severe legal consequences. For example, in the UAE, accessing banned websites via a VPN can result in fines starting at $136,129 [18]. In Myanmar, VPN users face up to 3 years in prison [19].

Governments worldwide are cracking down on privacy tools:

Tactics like deep packet inspection, mandatory local hosting for VPN providers, and device inspections are used to enforce these restrictions. Some governments even push state-approved tools, which often compromise user privacy.

Access and Usage Barriers

Beyond legal risks, using privacy tools in censored regions can be technically and practically challenging. A 2010 study found that fewer than 3% of users in such areas successfully navigate circumvention tools [21].

Common challenges include:

• Blocked websites and slow, unstable connections

• Complex setup processes and technical hurdles

• Difficulty finding reliable and secure providers

To overcome these issues, users may experiment with different protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IKEv2, enable obfuscation to disguise their traffic, switch to cellular data when Wi-Fi is blocked, or clear their cache and cookies regularly. However, the success of these methods varies depending on the region.

For instance, after the Telegram ban in Iran, searches for VPNs and other circumvention tools surged, showing how users adapt to new restrictions despite the barriers they face.

Conclusion: Protecting Internet Freedom

Better Privacy Tools

As censorship efforts grow, privacy tools are becoming a critical line of defense. Advanced blocking techniques are pushing the development of decentralized solutions. While traditional VPNs remain helpful, they are increasingly under government scrutiny, raising questions about user data safety and centralized weak points. Decentralized VPNs (dVPNs) offer a new approach by spreading user data across multiple nodes instead of relying on a single server. This setup makes it much harder for authorities to track or block access [23]. A notable example of this is MASQ.

"Decentralized VPNs (dVPNs) are more secure than traditional VPNs for a simple reason: they don't have central points of failure (and attack)." - Dario Ramponi [23]

Taking Control of Online Privacy

More than 31% of internet users - around 1.6 billion people - are now using VPNs [14]. Privacy tools are becoming easier to access, and there are practical steps users can take right now to enhance their online privacy. Here are some of the most effective methods:

• Enable DNS-over-HTTPS in browsers like Firefox and Chrome [20].

• Use HTTPS instead of HTTP for safer website access [22].

• Set up proxy servers for apps like Signal and WhatsApp [20].

Strong encryption and decentralized networks not only make censorship harder but also less economically viable for those enforcing it. By adopting these tools, users can help ensure open and unrestricted internet access [20].