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Encryption 13 September 2021

Make the Switch for Global Encryption Day 

By Susannah GrayDirector, Communications

Global Encryption Day is a digital global event taking place on 21 October 2021. Organized by the Global Encryption Coalition (GEC), Global Encryption Day will put strong encryption firmly in the spotlight around the world to help us champion a stronger Internet for all.

Make the Switch

In the days leading up to Global Encryption Day, the GEC is running the Make the Switch campaign. It wants you to participate by Making the Switch to end-to-end encrypted services and platforms and to help champion strong encryption and encrypted platforms and services to your communities. The Make the Switch campaign will culminate in Global Encryption Day itself, a day of localized events and activities taking place around the world that put encryption front and center.

Take Part

There are many ways you can get involved in the Make the Switch campaign and in Global Encryption Day itself.

Stay Updated

In the weeks leading up to Global Encryption Day, the GEC will be updating the campaign website with new information and exciting new activities and ways to participate, so keep this link available. You can also keep up with the latest news on Twitter (including the hashtags #EncryptionDay and #MakeTheSwitch) and Facebook.

Why Participate

Encryption keeps our personal information and conversations private and secure, and it helps journalists expose corruption and hold the powerful to account. It protects the safety of individuals and nations and keeps the Internet strong and secure.

But encryption is under threat. Some governments argue that law enforcement should be given dangerous authority, requiring companies to create an encryption “backdoor” to fight crime. Authorizing “backdoor access” for law enforcement would have dangerous, unintended consequences that would undermine efforts to prevent crime by exposing the personal and confidential information of billions of people, and creating new, dangerous points of access for criminals and hostile actors to exploit.

That’s why we’re asking everyone to help us promote the message that strong encryption makes life safer for everyone by taking part in the Make the Switch campaign and in Global Encryption Day.


Note: The Internet Society is a founding member of the Global Encryption Coalition and is currently part of the GEC Steering Committee.

Disclaimer: Viewpoints expressed in this post are those of the author and may or may not reflect official Internet Society positions.

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