Rights Action Lab (Canada), Inc.

What Rights Action Lab (Canada), Inc. does

Rights Action Lab (Canada), Inc. is the Canadian-registered entity of a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization (US Tax ID 46-4078393, Canadian Business Number 767645039 RC0001) founded in 2014 by activist Lhadon Tethong and technologist Nathan Freitas. The organization operates as a hub for mission-aligned projects focused on human rights and digital security in repressive environments, with programs designed for activists, journalists, Tibetan communities, and civil society organizations facing surveillance, censorship, and cyber attacks.

The organization's technology portfolio includes the Guardian Project's open-source mobile security tools — most notably Orbot, which has been installed more than 20 million times — alongside the Convene encrypted browser-based communication platform, the Butterbox off-grid delay-tolerant communication platform, and Proofmode camera-verification technology. Supporting programs include the Tibet Action Institute, which integrates digital communications with strategic nonviolent action for the Tibetan freedom movement, and TibCERT, a community platform for digital security training and incident response. The organization delivers these tools through direct-download project websites, in-person and virtual training programs, and partnerships with aligned civil society organizations.

Rights Action Lab generates revenue exclusively through tax-deductible donations (one-time and monthly contributions) and provides its tools and training free of charge. Its go-to-market combines a website/newsletter content presence with community-led engagement, event-driven rapid response to emerging cyber threats, and educational programming for target beneficiary groups. The organization is governed by a board including Tenzin Fessler (Chair), Stacey Simon (Treasurer), and Dr. Sophia Conroy (Secretary), with an executive team led by Kate Woznow (Executive Director).

Name

Rights Action Lab (Canada), Inc.

Legal name

Rights Action Lab Inc.

Website

https://rightsactionlab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rights Action Lab is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that develops open-source digital-security tools (Orbot, Convene, Butterbox, Proofmode) and provides training for activists, journalists, Tibetan communities, and civil society organizations operating in repressive environments worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Security Software

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL), Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK)

Keywords

• Digital security software
• Encrypted communications
• Human rights advocacy
• Nonviolent action training
• Open-source privacy tools

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Rights Action Lab operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, generating revenue through tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and supporters who fund their mission-aligned projects in human rights and digital security.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rights Action Lab is a nonprofit organization that develops and distributes open-source digital security software (Convene, Butterbox, Proofmode, Orbot) and provides training, research, and advocacy services to support human rights activists, journalists, and civil society organizations operating in repressive environments. The organization is funded through donations and charitable contributions and offers its tools free of charge to mission-aligned beneficiaries.

Product overview

Rights Action Lab operates as a nonprofit organization housing mission-aligned projects focused on human rights and digital security. The portfolio includes five distinct projects/products: (1) Tibet Action Institute - a strategic initiative combining digital communication with nonviolent action for the Tibetan freedom movement; (2) TibCERT - a digital security and incident response initiative for community platforms; (3) Convene - a browser-based encrypted communication platform offering private, ephemeral messaging; (4) Butterbox - a delay-tolerant communication platform for offline or unsafe internet environments; and (5) Proofmode - a verification technology for camera authenticity. Supporting these products are core service capabilities in Education & Outreach, Training, Research, Technology Development, and Network Building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tibet Action Institute: Combining the power of digital communication with strategic nonviolent action to advance the Tibetan freedom movement.
• TibCERT
• Convene
• Butterbox
• Proofmode
• Guardian Project

Products and services

• Convene Convene is an instant private, ephemeral, and encrypted communication platform accessible from a browser that can be used from anywhere. It is designed for activists, journalists, and others seeking secure private communications in repressive environments.
• Butterbox Butterbox is an off-grid, delay-tolerant communication and sharing platform providing connectivity and services when the internet is not available or not safe. It serves activists and communities in environments where internet access is restricted or unsafe.
• Proofmode Proofmode is a verification technology enabling every camera to have an enabled Proof Mode and every viewer an ability to verify-then-trust what they are seeing. It is designed for journalists, citizen reporters, and human rights documentation in environments where image authenticity may be disputed.
• Tibet Action Institute Tibet Action Institute combines the power of digital communication with strategic nonviolent action to advance the Tibetan freedom movement. It serves Tibetan communities and advocates through training, advocacy, and digital-enabled campaigns.
• TibCERT TibCERT supports and strengthens community platforms for digital security and incident response. It serves civil society organizations and community platforms facing cyber threats in repressive environments.
• Guardian Project (Orbot) Guardian Project is an award-winning open-source mobile security collaborative that develops tools including the Orbot app (proxy functionality and encrypted communications with 20M+ installs), LetsConvene, Butter Box, Keanu engine, and Círculo app. It serves a global user base of activists, journalists, and civil society organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Orbot app has been installed more than 20 million times

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Tibet Action InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTibet Action Institute is a flagship project of Rights Action Lab, combining digital communication power with strategic nonviolent action to advance the Tibetan freedom movement.
• Guardian ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuardian Project is a co-founded initiative under Rights Action Lab, creating award-winning open-source mobile security software including Orbot (20M+ installs), LetsConvene, Butter Box, Keanu engine, and Círculo app.
• TibCERTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTibCERT supports and strengthens community platforms for digital security and incident response, led by Lobsang Gyatso Sither who was recognized by Wired UK as an innovator building a better future.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Citizen Lab (Munk School, University of Toronto): Academic research center that investigates state-sponsored surveillance and digital threats against activists and journalists — directly comparable to Rights Action Lab's research mandate and threat-response posture.
• Article 19: Global freedom of expression organization that does advocacy, litigation, and digital safety work for journalists and activists. Comparable mission and beneficiary base, operating at a significantly larger institutional scale.
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Leading digital civil liberties organization that combines litigation, policy advocacy, and technology development. EFF's broader portfolio and US focus place it as a broad incumbent in the same digital rights space as Rights Action Lab.

Direct peers

• Front Line Defenders: International organization focused on the protection and security of human rights defenders, including digital security support. Comparable target beneficiaries and overlapping digital-security training programs.
• Digital Rights Foundation: Pakistan-based digital rights nonprofit providing digital security training, helpline support, and research — a smaller, regionally focused peer with a similar toolkit-plus-training model for at-risk communities.
• Witness: Focuses on using video and technology for human rights documentation and accountability. Overlaps directly with Proofmode's mission of enabling verified, trustable evidentiary capture and with Convene for secure human-rights workflows.
• Tactical Tech: Produces digital security training materials, research, and tools for activists and civil society, mirroring Rights Action Lab's combined education, training, and technology development model.
• Tor Project: Develops the Tor anonymity network and Tor Browser, which directly overlap with Guardian Project's Orbot and Convene products. Both organizations build open-source privacy infrastructure for users in repressive environments.
• Access Now: Global digital rights nonprofit that provides digital security helpline support, emergency response for civil society, and advocacy on internet freedom — closely aligned with Rights Action Lab's mission of protecting activists and journalists from surveillance and censorship.

Others

• Open Technology Fund (OTF): US-funded organization that provides grants and support to internet freedom tools, including circumvention and messaging. Frequently a potential funder and ecosystem partner for Rights Action Lab's tool portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 records

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 Rights Action Lab (Canada), Inc.