Hey John—
Right now, we’re watching a bill that requires any site that hosts “adult content” to block users on VPNs.1 It seems like it’s being fast-tracked through the Wisconsin state legislature because these lawmakers don’t know or care what a VPN is. They couldn’t tell you why VPNs are crucial to online safety, privacy, and fascistic censorship circumvention.
But we can. This is exactly where Fight for the Future could come in. We’re the ones who made the obscure concept of Net Neutrality a meme, and we know that VPNs are an essential stopgap while we fight for an Internet that is private, open, and free by design.
Unfortunately, the funding landscape is real sad these days. Pushing back on bad legislation while fighting for the good stuff is additionally difficult to get funded, because a lot of this work requires 501(c)4 funding, the kind that isn’t the tax-deductible kind that businesses and rich folks usually give.
Today, we’re in an overall funding shortfall that is going to prevent significant work on VPN defense, despite the fact that our campaigners are chomping at the bit2 to do things like education for legislators, stunts, and organizing of civil society for censorship-resistant VPN tools.
I’m Very Interested in working on VPNs, so I figured I’d shoot my shot and ask you for two things:
1. If you’ve got money, please pitch in or become a monthly donor. Even $5 a month, if enough people do it, will make a real difference. Buy one of us a latte, we need it. You can donate here.
DONATE TO DEFEND VPNs
2. Whether you have money or not, go hit up some VPN companies for us and tell THEM to donate. After all, we’re wanting to fight for their right to exist. Send them a message mentioning DefendVPNs.com and that you want to see the campaign move forward, so could they donate to Fight for the Future.
Worth a try! And in the meantime, know that we’re doing all we can to show up in a moment that demands so much of us all. It means a lot to us that you’re with us, no matter if you can give or spare the time.
Gratefully,
Lia and the team at Fight
