Around the world, our 130 chapters and special interest groups work locally, regionally, and globally to keep the Internet a force for good: open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy. Here is an overview of just some of their activities over the last few weeks.
Connectivity
Capacity Building
🇳🇪 Niger Chapter introduced a new Digital Learning Center in Maradi, over 600 km from Niamey, the capital. The launch included a digital literacy training program for persons living with disabilities. Supported by the Internet Society Foundation, the center features a room fully equipped with computers and reliable Internet access.
This project brings the Internet’s opportunities to underserved communities and empowers people with disabilities with essential digital skills, ensuring that geography or physical ability does not prevent anyone from participating in the digital world.
Are you interested in promoting digital rights and advocating for the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities? Join our Accessibility Standing Group.
Internet Shutdowns
🇬🇦 Gabon Chapter issued a press release to denounce the indefinite suspension of social media in the country. The government ordered an indefinite nationwide block during ongoing anti-government protests and labor strikes. The press release highlighted the shutdown’s negative impact on Gabon’s socioeconomic development, and called on the government to lift the ban immediately and find alternative solutions to the crisis.
🇹🇩 Chad Chapter took a stand against the Gabon government’s nationwide block on social media platforms, with the Chad Chapter president appearing on Chad national television. He urged the Gabonese government to lift the order immediately, reinforcing the message that Internet shutdowns and service blocking are never a solution to a country’s challenges.
Check the Internet Society Pulse incident page for more information about these shutdowns.
Privacy
Safer Internet Day
🇮🇱 Israel Chapter led a massive, multi-front effort to combat disinformation, promote digital literacy, and advocate for online safety, engaging over 1,400 participants across various initiatives. The chapter’s flagship event was the 6th Independent Journalism Conference, where over 500 attendees gathered to tackle the spread of AI-generated content. The chapter also partnered with Greenpeace Israel for a conference on environmental disinformation, hosted a webinar on synthetic data with FPF Israel, guided 50 university students in creating digital projects to counter disinformation, and trained 30 educators on their “Fake or Not” AI resilience initiative.
The chapter also launched a highly successful bilingual Internet Safety Month social media campaign reaching 300 participants, delivered a digital resilience presentation for 380 senior citizens, and hosted 32 master’s students in public policy to discuss critical Internet infrastructure. Finally, the chapter advocated for offline communities by submitting a position paper to the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee to ensure vulnerable populations are protected during the banking sector’s transition to default digital correspondence.
🇲🇱 Mali Chapter ran a school-based awareness campaign in Bamako, educating students on protecting personal data, responsible posting online, and digital best practices. The initiative was supported by Orange Mali and encouraged responsible Internet use, with the goal of motivating young people to become actors in a safer and more constructive digital space.
🇳🇬 Nigeria Chapter celebrated Safer Internet Day 2026 across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). With 37 outreach activities, the chapter reached secondary schools, tertiary institutions, youth groups, women, and persons with disabilities. Over 2,500 students, teachers, and parents received training on online safety and digital responsibility to promote a safer, more inclusive digital space for all.
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico Chapter kicked off 2026 with a series of webinars for professionals from the Colegio de Ingenieros y Agrimensura de Puerto Rico. As part of these efforts, the chapter also delivered a training session on online trust and safety for young people supported by Proyecto NACER, a program that works with young people who left school due to pregnancy to ensure that they are equipped with essential life skills. In recognition of this work, the chapter received an award on Safer Internet Day from the governor of Puerto Rico.
🇾🇪 Yemen Chapter delivered a social media awareness campaign, with messages on how to protect yourself, your family, and your business online.
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe Chapter hosted a deep tech talk panel discussion to promote a safer digital environment for all.
Learn more about our work on privacy.
Internet Governance
🇨🇭 Switzerland Chapter hosted an engaging panel discussion on digital sovereignty at the L200 space in Zurich and online. The event brought together 50 participants to debate and explore what digital sovereignty means for civil society from Swiss, European, and global perspectives.
Get involved! Find your local Internet Society chapter or join a special interest group to take action to make global change.
Image © Internet Society Mali Chapter, © Internet Society Niger Chapter