Internet Sans Frontières
Internet Sans Frontières is a French non-profit founded in 2012 that documents internet shutdowns, advocates against censorship, and promotes digital rights globally, serving civil society organizations and activists primarily across Africa, with regional offices in Chad, Brazil, and Togo.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Internet Sans Frontières does
Internet Sans Frontières (ISF), also operating as Internet Without Borders, is a French non-profit association registered under the loi du 1er Juillet 1901, founded in 2012 at the Kinshasa Summit. The organization is dedicated to protecting and exercising human rights on the internet, with a primary focus on documenting internet shutdowns and censorship, particularly across Africa (Cameroon, Chad, Togo, Mali, Kenya, Gabon, Benin, Nigeria, Egypt, Guinea), as well as in Europe and the Americas. ISF is led by Executive Director Julie Owono and operates from its Paris headquarters (25 Rue Ponthieu, 75008) with regional bureaus in N'Djamena (Chad), Brazil, and Togo.
The organization's core technology platform relies on the OONI (Open Observatory of Network Interference) measurement application for technical detection and documentation of network censorship events. ISF produces research reports (such as the 'Voices at Risk' study on harmful online speech in Kenya), open letters to governments, and policy analyses on cybersecurity, encryption, surveillance, and digital rights. It conducts campaigns including #BringbackourInternet, #KeepItOn (jointly with Access Now), #MoicamerounaiseduNet, and #KenSafeSpace, and engages in advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), RightsCon, and regional governance bodies.
As a non-profit, ISF is funded through donations and grants from foundations and international organizations supporting digital rights. It does not sell products or services and does not disclose financial data. The organization has approximately 6 employees and reaches its audience through its website, social media channels, email newsletters, international conferences, and an extensive coalition network including the NetRights coalition of 132 organizations and partnerships with Access Now, the Web Foundation, Global Network Initiative, Ranking Digital Rights, and A4AI.
Internet Sans Frontières firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Internet Sans Frontières
- Legal name
- Internet Sans Frontières
- Website
- https://internetwithoutborders.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Internet Sans Frontières is a French non-profit founded in 2012 that documents internet shutdowns, advocates against censorship, and promotes digital rights globally, serving civil society organizations and activists primarily across Africa, with regional offices in Chad, Brazil, and Togo.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Internet Sans Frontières industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Rights Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)
- SIC
- Communications Services, Nec (4899)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights (BPADAGAE), Digital Policy, Data Governance & Cybersecurity Standards Cooperation (BPADANAH)
Keywords
Where Internet Sans Frontières is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Internet Sans Frontières business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a non-profit organization registered under French law (loi du 1er Juillet 1901), Internet Sans Frontières is funded through donations and likely grants from foundations and international organizations supporting digital rights and internet freedom.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Internet Sans Frontières product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Internet Sans Frontières is a non-profit advocacy organization that documents internet shutdowns and censorship events globally, advocates for digital rights at international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council and the Internet Governance Forum, and leads campaigns such as #BringbackourInternet and #KenSafeSpace. It conducts research, publishes legal analyses on cybersecurity and data protection laws, and builds coalitions with civil society organizations to protect freedom of expression online, with regional operations across Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
Product overview
Internet Sans Frontières is a non-profit advocacy organization (association loi 1901) focused on protecting and exercising human rights on the Internet. The organization does not offer commercial software products or services; instead, it conducts advocacy campaigns, publishes research reports on internet freedom and censorship, monitors internet shutdowns globally, and advocates for digital rights and internet governance. Key activities include the #BringbackourInternet and #KenSafeSpace campaigns, research publications such as the 'Voices at Risk' report on harmful online speech in Kenya, and policy analysis on cybersecurity, encryption, and surveillance. The organization maintains offices in Paris, France and a field office in N'Djamena, Chad.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- #BringbackourInternet Campaign Advocacy campaign against internet shutdowns, calling for governments to restore connectivity when network disruptions are imposed on populations. Targets governments and international bodies and is aimed at civil society organizations and activists.
- #MoicamerounaiseduNet Campaign Campaign addressing women's rights online in Cameroon, focused on online gender-based violence and digital inclusion. Aimed at women users and civil society organizations in Cameroon and francophone Africa.
- #KenSafeSpace Coalition Coalition-based initiative addressing online speech, AI-driven online harm, and platform responsibility in Kenya, bringing together ISF, KICTANet, BAKE, and other civil society organizations.
- Disinformation and Hate on Social Networks Research Program Research and advocacy program examining disinformation and online hate speech on social media platforms. Produces reports and policy analysis for civil society, governments, and international bodies.
- Censorship Monitoring and Documentation Service Technical service using OONI measurement application and network testing methodology to detect and document internet shutdowns and censorship events across Africa and other regions. Outputs technical evidence used in advocacy campaigns and reports.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94 days - longest internet shutdown recorded in Africa documented and advocacy campaign led to restoration of connectivity in Cameroon's anglophone regions (2017)
Companies that use Internet Sans Frontières
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Internet Sans Frontières technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Internet Sans Frontières partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and regional.
- Access Now (#KeepItOn Coalition)coreLong-standing partnership in the #KeepItOn coalition fighting internet shutdowns globally. Joint campaigns, open letters to governments, and coordinated advocacy. Access Now manages the digital security helpline referenced by ISF for users affected by censorship.
- Web Foundation (World Wide Web Foundation)corePartnership on research regarding women's rights online and internet freedom issues. Collaborated on surveys and reports on digital rights in Africa.
- Global Network InitiativecoreMember of the Global Network Initiative, a multi-stakeholder organization focused on freedom of expression and privacy in the ICT sector.
- Ranking Digital RightscorePartner organization working on ranking companies on their commitments to freedom of expression and privacy.
- OONI (Open Observatory of Network Interference)coreISF uses OONI's measurement application and methodology to detect and document internet censorship events. Partner provides technical tools for network testing.
- A4AI (Alliance for Affordable Internet)minorMember of the A4AI coalition working to reduce internet access costs and promote affordable internet globally.
- NetRights CoalitioncoreCoalition of 132+ organizations working together on net rights issues. ISF joined in condemning RightsCon 2026 cancellation in Zambia and other joint advocacy efforts.
- KICTANet (Kenya ICT Action Network)regionalKenyan civil society organization partner in monitoring online harm and platform responsibility issues in Kenya. Part of #KenSafeSpace coalition.
- BAKE (Bloggers Association of Kenya)regionalKenyan partner in the #KenSafeSpace coalition addressing online speech and digital rights issues.
- Utopie Nord-SudminorPartner in joint submission of reports to UN Human Rights Council on digital rights violations in Chad.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Internet Sans Frontières competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Tactical Tech: Berlin-based NGO working on digital rights literacy and the societal impacts of technology, with overlapping civil society audience and RightsCon/IGF participation though with a stronger European and training-led orientation.
Direct peers
- Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Paris-headquartered press-freedom NGO with overlapping interest in internet shutdowns and digital surveillance; structurally similar French-based advocacy organization with comparable donor and policy channels.
- Access Now: Leads the #KeepItOn coalition that ISF is a core member of. Both organizations advocate against internet shutdowns, document censorship, and engage at UN Human Rights Council and IGF — direct peer in mandate, geography, and target audience.
- Article 19: Global freedom of expression and information NGO that litigates and advocates on digital rights in many of the same countries ISF works in (Cameroon, Chad, Brazil). Highly comparable mandate, donor base, and policy interventions.
- Ranking Digital Rights: Partner organization that ranks companies on freedom of expression and privacy commitments. Operates in the same digital rights advocacy ecosystem with shared funders, conferences (RightsCon), and policy goals.
- Web Foundation (World Wide Web Foundation): Strategic partner of ISF; both organizations research women's rights online and internet freedom in Africa and operate in the same UN/IGF policy venues with overlapping donor and coalition relationships.
Broad incumbents
- Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): Press-freedom advocacy organization that documents censorship and journalist-targeted network shutdowns. Overlapping target audience (civil society, journalists) and overlapping donor pool, with a journalism-specific lens.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Established US-based digital rights organization covering freedom of expression, privacy, and internet governance at much larger scale. EFF is a broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps with ISF's mission and whose work ISF can leverage in policy debates.
- Human Rights Watch: Larger generalist human rights organization that reports on internet freedom and digital repression in many of the same countries (Cameroon, Chad, Egypt). ISF's regional advocacy often feeds into and amplifies HRW's reporting.
Others
- OONI (Open Observatory of Network Interference): Technology provider whose measurement tools ISF uses to detect censorship. Adjacent ecosystem participant — not a competitor, but a critical enabler whose methodology ISF's impact claims depend on.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Internet Sans Frontières social profiles
Digital presenceInternet Sans Frontières financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Internet Sans Frontières leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Internet Sans Frontières subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Internet Sans Frontières funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Internet Sans Frontières M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Internet Sans Frontières
What does Internet Sans Frontières do?
Internet Sans Frontières is a non-profit advocacy organization that documents internet shutdowns and censorship events globally, advocates for digital rights at international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council and the Internet Governance Forum, and leads campaigns such as #BringbackourInternet and #KenSafeSpace. It conducts research, publishes legal analyses on cybersecurity and data protection laws, and builds coalitions with civil society organizations to protect freedom of expression online, with regional operations across Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
Is Internet Sans Frontières a public or private company?
Internet Sans Frontières is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Internet Sans Frontières founded?
Internet Sans Frontières was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Internet Sans Frontières based?
Internet Sans Frontières is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Internet Sans Frontières make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Internet Sans Frontières's main competitors?
Tactical Tech is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Access Now, Article 19, Ranking Digital Rights and Web Foundation (World Wide Web Foundation). Broad incumbents are Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Human Rights Watch. OONI (Open Observatory of Network Interference) is listed as an others.
Does Internet Sans Frontières have an API?
No public API is recorded for Internet Sans Frontières.
What industry is Internet Sans Frontières in?
Internet Sans Frontières's product category is Digital Rights Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAL, Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPADAGAE, Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 4899.