USApedia

Open Technology Fund: Difference between revisions

Page Discussion

Open Technology Fund (view source)

Revision as of 22:19, 11 April 2025

301 bytes removed ,  11 April
no edit summary
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(2 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
|OrganizationName=Open Technology Fund
|OrganizationName=Open Technology Fund
|OrganizationType=Non-profit
|OrganizationType=Non-profit
|Mission=The Open Technology Fund supports global Internet freedom by advancing technologies that enable citizens to have secure and uncensored access to the Internet. Its mission is to foster the development of open-source tools that promote human rights, free expression, and counter online censorship and surveillance.
|Mission=Open Technology Fund boosts Internet freedom with open-source tools for rights and free expression.
|ParentOrganization=U.S. Agency for Global Media
|ParentOrganization=Agency for Global Media
|TopOrganization=Agency for Global Media
|Employees=12
|Employees=12
|Budget=$40 million (Fiscal Year 2023)
|Budget=$40 million (Fiscal Year 2023)
|OrganizationExecutive=Executive Director
|OrganizationExecutive=Executive Director
|Services=Grants for Internet Freedom Projects; Technology Development; Security Audits; Research Fellowships
|Services=Grants for Internet Freedom Projects; Technology Development; Security Audits; Research Fellowships
|HeadquartersLocation=38.90425, -77.04714
|HeadquartersLocation=38.90422, -77.04712
|HeadquartersAddress=2101 L St NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C., 20037
|HeadquartersAddress=2101 L St NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C., 20037
|Website=https://www.opentech.fund
|Website=https://www.opentech.fund
}}
}}
{{Distinguish|Open Technology Institute}}
{{Short description|American nonprofit corporation that aims to support global Internet freedom technologies}}
{{Short description|American nonprofit corporation that aims to support global Internet freedom technologies}}


The '''Open Technology Fund''' ('''OTF''') is an American nonprofit corporation<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.opentech.fund/news/a-new-independent-otf/|title=A New, Independent OTF|website=Open Technology Fund|language=en|access-date=2024-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717202610/https://www.opentech.fund/news/new-independent-otf/ |archive-date=2020-07-17}}</ref> that aims to support global [[Internet freedom]] technologies. Its mission is to "support open technologies and communities that increase free expression, circumvent [[censorship]], and obstruct repressive [[surveillance]] as a way to promote [[human rights]] and open societies."<ref name="values-principles">{{cite web|url=https://www.opentech.fund/about/values-principles/|title=Values & Principles|website=Open Technology Fund|access-date=20 October 2019}}</ref> As of November 2019, the Open Technology Fund became an independent nonprofit corporation and a grantee of the [[U.S. Agency for Global Media]].<ref name=":0" /> Until its formation as an independent entity, it had operated as a program of [[Radio Free Asia]].<ref name=":0" />
The '''Open Technology Fund''' ('''OTF''') is an American nonprofit corporation<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.opentech.fund/news/a-new-independent-otf/|title=A New, Independent OTF|website=Open Technology Fund|language=en|access-date=2024-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717202610/https://www.opentech.fund/news/new-independent-otf/ |archive-date=2020-07-17}}</ref> that aims to support global [[Internet freedom]] technologies.  
 
As of November 2019, the Open Technology Fund became an independent nonprofit corporation and a grantee of the [[U.S. Agency for Global Media]].<ref name=":0" /> Until its formation as an independent entity, it had operated as a program of [[Radio Free Asia]].<ref name=":0" />
 
== Mission ==
Its mission is to "support open technologies and communities that  
 
* increase free expression,  
* circumvent censorship, and  
* obstruct repressive surveillance as a way to promote human rights and open societies."<ref name="values-principles">{{cite web|url=https://www.opentech.fund/about/values-principles/|title=Values & Principles|website=Open Technology Fund|access-date=20 October 2019}}</ref>  


==History==
==History==
The Open Technology Fund was started in 2012 by [[Libby Liu]], then president of [[Radio Free Asia]] (RFA), as a pilot program within RFA to help better protect reporters and sources for the news organization with enhanced digital security technology.<ref name="Paletta 2016">{{cite news |last1=Paletta |first1=Damian |title=How the U.S. Fights Encryption--and Also Helps Develop It; Agencies are developing encryption tools for secure communications, even as the FBI battles for access to an encrypted iPhone |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=February 22, 2016}} {{ProQuest|1766924876}}</ref><ref name="otf-history"/><ref name=":0" /> Under U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]], the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] adopted a policy of supporting global internet freedom initiatives.<ref name="Lake-2015-09-18"/> At this time, RFA began looking into technologies that helped their audiences avoid censorship and surveillance.<ref name="Lake-2015-09-18" /> Journalist [[Eli Lake]] argued that Clinton's policy was "heavily influenced by the [[Internet activism]] that helped organize the [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests|green revolution in Iran in 2009]] and other [[Arab Spring|revolutions in the Arab world in 2010 and 2011]]".<ref name="Lake-2015-09-18">{{cite web|last1=Lake|first1=Eli|title=Government Is Fighting Itself on Encryption|url=https://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-09-18/government-is-fighting-itself-on-encryption|website=Bloomberg View|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|type=Column|access-date=15 February 2016|date=18 September 2015}} Note: The author uses "Open Whisper" when referring to [[Open Whisper Systems]].</ref>
The Open Technology Fund was started in 2012 by Libby Liu, then president of [[Radio Free Asia]] (RFA), as a pilot program within RFA to help better protect reporters and sources for the news organization with enhanced digital security technology.<ref name="Paletta 2016">{{cite news |last1=Paletta |first1=Damian |title=How the U.S. Fights Encryption--and Also Helps Develop It; Agencies are developing encryption tools for secure communications, even as the FBI battles for access to an encrypted iPhone |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=February 22, 2016}} {{ProQuest|1766924876}}</ref><ref name="otf-history"/><ref name=":0" /> Under U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] adopted a policy of supporting global internet freedom initiatives.<ref name="Lake-2015-09-18"/> At this time, RFA began looking into technologies that helped their audiences avoid censorship and surveillance.<ref name="Lake-2015-09-18" /> Journalist [[Eli Lake]] argued that Clinton's policy was "heavily influenced by the [[Internet activism]] that helped organize the green revolution in Iran in 2009 and other revolutions in the Arab world in 2010 and 2011".<ref name="Lake-2015-09-18">{{cite web|last1=Lake|first1=Eli|title=Government Is Fighting Itself on Encryption|url=https://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-09-18/government-is-fighting-itself-on-encryption|website=Bloomberg View|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|type=Column|access-date=15 February 2016|date=18 September 2015}} Note: The author uses "Open Whisper" when referring to [[Open Whisper Systems]].</ref>


In September 2014, the OTF worked with [[Google]] and [[Dropbox (service)|Dropbox]] to create an organization called Simply Secure to help improve the usability of privacy tools.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rushe|first1=Dominic|title=Google and Dropbox launch Simply Secure to improve online security|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/18/google-dropbox-simply-secure-security-tech|website=The Guardian|access-date=14 February 2016|date=18 September 2014}}</ref>  
In September 2014, the OTF worked with Google and Dropbox to create an organization called Simply Secure to help improve the usability of privacy tools.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rushe|first1=Dominic|title=Google and Dropbox launch Simply Secure to improve online security|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/18/google-dropbox-simply-secure-security-tech|website=The Guardian|access-date=14 February 2016|date=18 September 2014}}</ref>  


In March 2017, the OTF's future was reported as under question due to the Trump administration's unclear positions on Internet freedom issues.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Melendez|first1=Steven|title=U.S.-Backed Efforts To Promote Openness And Democracy Are At Risk In The Age Of Trump|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3068328/us-backed-efforts-to-promote-openness-and-democracy-are-at-risk-in-the-age-of-trump|website=Fast Company|publisher=Fast Company, Inc|date=24 March 2017}}</ref> However, the OTF continued to receive Congressional funding under the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]].
In March 2017, the OTF's future was reported as under question due to the Trump administration's unclear positions on Internet freedom issues.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Melendez|first1=Steven|title=U.S.-Backed Efforts To Promote Openness And Democracy Are At Risk In The Age Of Trump|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3068328/us-backed-efforts-to-promote-openness-and-democracy-are-at-risk-in-the-age-of-trump|website=Fast Company|publisher=Fast Company, Inc|date=24 March 2017}}</ref> However, the OTF continued to receive Congressional funding under the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]].
Retrieved from ‘https://openusaproject.com/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/19365...32637’