What Stand Against Spying does

The firmographic record in the input data labels the entity as "Stand Against Spying" (Washington, DC; standagainstspying.org), but the comprehensive source material provided is entirely about the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF; San Francisco, California; eff.org), and the source itself notes this mismatch. The analytical content below is grounded in the source data, which describes EFF.

EFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 by John Perry Barlow, Mitch Kapor, and John Gilmore. Its mission is defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation. The organization operates across four interlocking functions: (1) developing and maintaining free, open-source privacy and security tools; (2) legal advocacy and precedent-setting litigation; (3) policy intervention at federal, state, and international levels; and (4) public education and grassroots mobilization.

The product portfolio comprises seven production open-source tools: Privacy Badger (browser extension blocking ads and trackers), Certbot (automated Let's Encrypt HTTPS certificate deployment), Surveillance Self-Defense (security guides and toolkits), Atlas of Surveillance (database of law enforcement surveillance technology deployment), Cover Your Tracks (browser fingerprinting analysis), Street Level Surveillance (documentation of ALPRs, drones, body cameras), and apkeep (Android application signature verification). Distribution is primarily direct via the eff.org domain, browser extension stores, and self-serve donation portals.

The business model is donation-driven and non-commercial: all tools are free, with no disclosed pricing. Revenue streams are individual membership donations (recurring and one-time), corporate sponsorships and organizational memberships (including Giving Societies), and merchandise sales via shop.eff.org. The organization holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and reaches its audience through a multi-channel mix including the Deeplinks blog, EFFector newsletter, "How to Fix the Internet" podcast, events, and an active presence on Mastodon, Blue Sky, TikTok, Threads, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr. Customer segments are horizontal and persona-based: privacy-conscious individuals, journalists and activists, and technology users advocating for digital rights.

Name

Stand Against Spying

Legal name

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Website

https://standagainstspying.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that defends digital privacy, free speech, and innovation through free open-source tools (Privacy Badger, Certbot, apkeep, Atlas of Surveillance), legal advocacy, policy intervention, and public education, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Software Publishers (5132), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights (BPADAGAE), Student Data Privacy Management & Consent (FERPA/GDPR/COPPA) (EDAFALAH)

Keywords

• Digital rights advocacy
• Privacy protection tools
• Civil liberties defense
• Surveillance oversight
• Free speech advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Donations: EFF is primarily funded through donations from individual members and supporters. The organization encourages one-time donations, membership renewals, and recurring contributions.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate giving and sponsorship programs where organizations can support EFF's mission. Includes organizational membership tiers and Giving Societies recognition.
3. Merchandise Sales: EFF operates an online store (shop.eff.org) selling branded merchandise including clothing, stickers, and accessories.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stand Against Spying defends digital privacy, free speech, and innovation by developing and distributing free, open-source privacy and security tools, conducting legal advocacy and policy intervention, and providing public education on surveillance and digital rights. Its portfolio of standalone products includes browser-based tracker blockers, automated HTTPS certificate deployment, surveillance technology databases, and security guidance resources, all offered at no cost and funded through donations and memberships.

Product overview

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) offers a portfolio of free, open-source privacy and security tools designed to protect digital rights. The portfolio includes Privacy Badger (ad/tracker blocker), Certbot (SSL certificate automation), Surveillance Self-Defense (security guides), Atlas of Surveillance (surveillance tech database), Cover Your Tracks (browser fingerprinting analysis), Street Level Surveillance (law enforcement tech documentation), and apkeep (Android app verification). These tools work together to provide comprehensive protection against tracking, surveillance, and security vulnerabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Privacy Badger: Browser extension that blocks trackers
• Surveillance Self-Defense
• Certbot
• Atlas of Surveillance
• Cover Your Tracks
• Street Level Surveillance

Products and services

• Privacy Badger A free, open-source browser extension that blocks ads and third-party trackers to protect user privacy while browsing the web. Intended for general internet users seeking protection from online tracking.
• Surveillance Self-Defense A comprehensive educational guide and toolkit that teaches users how to protect themselves against mass surveillance and digital security threats. Intended for journalists, activists, and the general public.
• Certbot A free, open-source automated tool for obtaining and deploying TLS/SSL certificates from Let's Encrypt to enable HTTPS on websites. Intended for website owners, developers, and system administrators.
• Atlas of Surveillance A database documenting surveillance technologies deployed by law enforcement agencies across the United States. Intended for journalists, researchers, policymakers, and the public.
• Cover Your Tracks A free online tool that analyzes browser fingerprinting techniques and shows users how their browsing activity can be tracked across the web. Intended for general internet users concerned about online tracking.
• Street Level Surveillance (SLS) A free resource documenting surveillance technologies used by law enforcement, including automated license plate readers, drones, and body cameras. Intended for journalists, researchers, advocates, and the public.
• apkeep A free, open-source tool for verifying the authenticity and integrity of Android applications by checking their signatures. Intended for Android developers, security researchers, and advanced users.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TEDIC (Association of Technology, Education, Development, Research, Communication)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026EFF and TEDIC have filed a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights against Paraguay regarding the state's use of facial recognition technology and denial of access to information about surveillance systems. This is a collaborative legal advocacy partnership aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in government surveillance.
• CEJIL (Centre for Justice and International Law)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026EFF, TEDIC, and CEJIL jointly filed a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights challenging secrecy around Paraguay's facial recognition use. The partnership combines legal expertise across international human rights law and digital rights advocacy.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Internet Society (ISOC): Global nonprofit advocating for an open, secure internet and supporting standards bodies and public-interest initiatives; comparable mission around internet freedom, encryption, and access.
• Access Now: International digital-rights nonprofit focused on privacy, free expression, and network shutdowns; directly comparable mission, tool-building (e.g., Digital Security Helpline), and policy-advocacy model.
• Mozilla Foundation: Foundation supporting open-source, privacy-respecting internet products (Firefox, Common Voice) and public-interest advocacy; shares EFF's nonprofit, open-source, and digital-rights orientation and overlapping funder base.
• Privacy International: UK-headquartered nonprofit conducting investigations, litigation, and advocacy on government and corporate surveillance; comparable digital-rights mission with comparable donation-funded operating model.
• Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT): Nonprofit that combines policy advocacy, technical research, and litigation on internet privacy, free expression, and AI governance — closely paralleling EFF's blend of legal, technical, and policy work.
• Fight for the Future: Smaller digital-rights advocacy nonprofit running grassroots campaigns on net neutrality, surveillance, and encryption; comparable advocacy tactics and donation-supported model, though narrower portfolio.
• Freedom of the Press Foundation: Nonprofit supporting press freedom and secure communications tooling (e.g., SecureDrop); directly comparable on digital-rights tooling, journalist user segment, and donation-funded nonprofit structure.

Regional players

• Open Rights Group: UK-based digital-rights nonprofit focused on privacy, free expression, and data protection; comparable advocacy mission and donation-funded model but operates primarily in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Larger and broader civil-liberties nonprofit that litigates and advocates on digital privacy, free speech, and surveillance issues overlapping substantially with EFF's mandate, though ACLU covers a wider civil-rights portfolio beyond digital rights.

Emerging players

• Wikimedia Foundation: Nonprofit stewarding open knowledge platforms and engaging in policy advocacy on intermediary liability, surveillance, and free expression; adjacent in nonprofit/open-internet orientation rather than a direct competitor for advocacy wins.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/efforg
• Facebookfacebook.com/eff
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/EFF
• Instagraminstagram.com/efforg
• TikToktiktok.com/@efforg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stand Against Spying