NDI unveils six open internet and democracy fellows

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) are collaborating to facilitate the Open Internet for Democracy Initiative—a collective effort connecting civil society, media, the local private sector, and political groups to preserve civic space online.

As part of this Initiative, NDI, CIPE, and CIMA are leading the second edition of the Open Internet for Democracy Leaders Program. This program empowers emerging Leaders from across the globe who are passionate about protecting and promoting an open internet and to build their advocacy and organizing skills to protect internet freedom.

This year, the cohort of Leaders will focus on the threat of digital authoritarianism to an open internet. Digital authoritarianism differs from the current multi-stakeholder model of internet governance, in that it believes governments should have total control of the internet within their borders.

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The Leaders will explore how, where, and with what effect policies inspired by digital authoritarianism are impacting the development of an open internet and how to push back against this type of digital authoritarianism.

The leaders include:

1. Olga Kyryliuk (Ukraine)
2. Oghenevwede Gift Agboro (Nigeria)
3. Thato Mochone (Lesotho)
4. Mary-Jean Nleya (Botswana)
5. Kudakwashe Hove (Zimbabwe)
6. Margaret López (Venezuela)

Check profile of fellows here.