Moving from Defense to Offense: Reclaiming Digital Freedom in the Age of Autocracy

In an era where the internet has transformed from a public square into a tool of control for authoritarian regimes, the fight for digital freedom has never been more critical. At the recent Berlin Freedom Conference 2025, our Executive Director, Ahmad Ahmadian, joined global leaders including Audrey Tang and Damon Wilson to discuss a pivotal shift in strategy: it is time to stop playing cat and mouse with censors and start building infrastructure they cannot touch.

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The "Cat and Mouse" Game is Over

For decades, activists and technologists have operated primarily on the defensive. When a regime builds a firewall, we build a VPN. When they block a site, we find a proxy. As Ahmad noted during the panel, this reactionary cycle is insufficient against the massive investments autocracies are making in digital surveillance and censorship.

"We have been more on the defense side. I think we need to be more proactive and on the offense side... We have to reclaim the internet infrastructure." — Ahmad Ahmadian

To truly empower communities living under digital authoritarianism, we must move beyond temporary workarounds and invest in autonomous, shutdown-proof infrastructure.

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Solution 1: Democratizing Satellite Internet

One of the most powerful tools in our arsenal is satellite technology. During the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement in Iran, tools like Starlink proved that internet access could be maintained even when the government pulled the plug on local ISPs.

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Ahmad’s call to action for the international community is clear: Subsidize satellite internet.

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While companies like SpaceX (Starlink), Amazon (Kuiper), and Eutelsat (OneWeb) are advancing the hardware, the cost remains a barrier for the Global South. Ahmad argues that just as democratic nations subsidized the early expansion of the internet, they must now subsidize satellite access for those in censored regions.

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"If you make it affordable in those countries... it automatically neutralizes all the investment that those countries are making in building those firewalls," Ahmad explained. When connectivity comes from the sky rather than a government-controlled cable, the "Great Firewall" becomes obsolete.

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Solution 2: Peer-to-Peer Resilience

Beyond connection, we must also rethink ownership Centralized platforms are vulnerable to pressure and shutdowns. Ahmad highlighted the necessity of peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies that allow citizens to own their data and communicate anonymously.

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By building decentralized networks, we create a digital ecosystem where:

• Anonymity is protected, shielding activists from state retribution.
• Data is autonomous, preventing regimes from harvesting or deleting history.
• Resilience is built-in, ensuring that no single switch can silence a movement.

A Unified Front for Freedom

The path forward requires a coalition of "freedom entrepreneurs," technologists, and policymakers. As stated at the conference, autocracies are learning from one another, sharing surveillance tech and censorship tactics. Democracies must do the same with liberation technology.

At Holistic Resilience we are committed to this offensive strategy. Whether it is smuggling in satellite terminals or developing decentralized communication tools, our mission is to tear down digital prisons and ensure that access to information remains a fundamental human right.

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Watch the full discussion from the Berlin Freedom Conference here:

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