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Resource Library

Everyone should have access to an open and trusted Internet.
Read our reports, papers, and other documents for insight and vision on how we can get there.

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Action Plan 2026

From our strategic vision to specific goals, read about how we’ll be advancing our five-year strategy in the coming year.

2019-2024 Impact Results

Our Impact Report is a snapshot of how we worked with our global community to grow, promote, and defend the Internet worldwide.

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Internet Impact Briefs

Shorter reports that analyze how different policies or new technologies may affect what the Internet needs to exist and thrive.

Glossary of Internet Terms

Understand key terms and become fluent in the language of the Internet with our new and improved glossary. 

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Policy Briefs

Our perspective on critical Internet issues, including community networks, encryption, open Internet standards, Internet Exchange Points, and more.

How the Chippewas of Nawash are Bridging the Digital Divide

Through investments in a community network initiative and skills development programs, the Chippewas of Nawash now have reliable, affordable, high speed Internet connectivity.  ...

Internet Fragmentation: An Explainer

Internet fragmentation affects all of us. Learn how policies and proposals around the world put the open Internet at risk ...

Internet Society’s Submission to the European Commission’s Exploratory Consultation on “The future of the electronic communications sector and its infrastructure”

We provided feedback in response to the European Commission’s exploratory consultation on the “The future of the electronic communications sector and its infrastructure” ...

Encrypted DNS Factsheet

The domain name system (DNS) makes the Internet easier for humans to navigate as well as for services online to be highly resilient ...

Homomorphic Encryption: What Is It, and Why Does It Matter?

Learn about the concept of homomorphic encryption, its practicalities and implications, in order to make smart choices about this emerging technology ...

Internet Impact Brief: How Canada’s Online News Act Will Harm the Internet, Restricting Innovation, Security, and Growth of the Digital Economy

Read how Canada’s Online News Act contributes to fragmentation by undermining encryption and splintering the relationship and experiences of people in Canada from an open, globally connected, secure and trustworthy ...

Developing Readiness for Community Networks in the Middle East and North Africa

The Internet Society's 2023 report into how community networks could help bridge the digital divide in the MENA region.  ...

Navigating Digital Sovereignty and Its Impact on the Internet

Dive into a study and learn about Digital Sovereignty and its Impact on the Internet around the world ...

Perspectives on LEO Satellites

Read how low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites can help bridge the digital divide and discover opportunities and the issues on satellite Internet access ...

Internet Impact Brief: How the US EARN IT Act Threatens Security, Confidentiality, and Safety Online

Read how the US EARN IT Act poses an existential threat to the Internet safety and security by preventing service providers from using end-to-end encryption ...

Internet Impact Brief: Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill 2022

Read how the draft telecommunication bill may affect Internet-based services in India, and more broadly, the health of the global Internet ...

Financing Mechanisms for Locally Owned Internet Infrastructure

Find out more about the financing mechanisms available to Community Connectivity Providers (CCPs) ...

Archives

Personal Data Protection Guidelines for Africa

A joint initiative of the Internet Society and the Commission of the African Union ...

IoT Security for Policymakers

“Cybersecurity will be the most pressing challenge of the next decade, and IoT will play a critical role in it.” Internet Society 2017 Global Internet Report
The open ...

Best Practices: Enterprise IoT Security Checklist

The Internet of Things (IoT) has found its way into all aspects of our lives. In particular, consumer IoT devices such as smart TVs, thermostats, smart speakers, fitness trackers and ...

Do Blockchains Have Anything to Offer Identity?

This paper is intended for information technology staff and management, and any others working on or with Identity and access management (IAM) technologies, and who are curious about blockchain and ...

Report from the Field: Post-Hurricane Connectivity in the Caribbean

We ask our community to join with us to both #ReconnectTheCaribbean, and also to work to ensure the networks are resilient to withstand the storms that may hit in 2018, ...

2017 Cyber Incident & Breach Trends Report

This year marks the Online Trust Alliance’s tenth annual publication related to cyber incidents and breach readiness. Now an initiative of the Internet Society, OTA reviews cyber incident and breach ...

2017 Email Marketing & Unsubscribe Audit

The 2017 Audit found that the vast majority of audited online retailers have embraced unsubscribe best practices, going beyond mere compliance, and have shown improvement since 2014 despite expanded and ...

Issue Paper, Asia-Pacific Bureau: Internet of Things

Building on the framework and concepts presented in the Internet Society Policy Brief on the Internet of Things, this issues paper focuses on concerns and good practices ...

Issue Paper, Asia-Pacific Bureau: Digital Safety of Children and Youth

This issues paper builds on two Internet Society reports, “Children and the Internet” and “Mapping Online Child Safety in Asia-Pacific” to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to the digital ...

Issue Paper, Asia-Pacific Bureau: Local and Localised Content

Building on the key considerations and guiding principles presented in the Internet Society Policy Brief on Local Content, this issues paper focuses on the challenges and opportunities ...

Promoting the African Internet Economy

Author: Michael Kende

Michael Kende is a Senior Fellow at the Internet Society. Many thanks to Dawit Bekele for his leadership and vision, and to Sally Wentworth, Konstantinos Komaitis, Jane ...

Tusheti Case Study

Find out how one of Europe's most remote communities set up a community network, boosting tourism, the local economy and providing an essential communication link for healthcare and emergency situations ...

Annual Reports and Financials

On annual basis, we publish annual reports (an Action Plan and Impact Report), as well as financial reports, annual financial statements, and Form 990s.

See the Reports

Image copyright: © Jordan Kapono Nakamura, © Victor Ndonnang