TZUTC: -0500
MSGID: 1934.consprcy@1:2320/105 2dc65d4e
PID: Synchronet 3.21a-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0
TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0
BBSID: CAPCITY2
CHRS: ASCII 1
FORMAT: flowed
US withdraws from internet freedom bodies it deems "wasteful, ineffective and
harmful"

Date:
Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:17:41 +0000

Description:
President Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the country from 
key international internet freedom organizations, including the Freedom 
Online Coalition and Global Forum on Cyber Expertise.

FULL STORY

The United States has withdrawn from 66 international organizations the Trump
administration deems "contrary to the interests" of the country. 

The list, which includes UN climate treaties and groups working on
development, gender equality, and conflict resolution, also targets two
organizations working to make the internet a safer and more equitable place:
the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) and the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise
(GFCE). 

The executive order , signed by President Trump on Wednesday, directs all US
agencies to immediately cease participation in and funding for the listed
groups. 

The Freedom Online Coalition is a group of more than 40 governments that work
together to promote a world "where the use of the Internet and digital
technologies reinforces human rights, democracy, and the rule of law." 

Similarly, the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise brings together over 250
members from governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society
around the world. 

In an email to TechRadar, it said its mission is to "strengthen cyber
resilience of nations, to assist building digital economies, whilst 
advocating an open, free and secure internet for all." 

In a press statement , Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledges that many
of the organizations added to the list were established to promote "peace and
cooperation." 

However, he argues they have since "morphed into a sprawling architecture of
global governance, often dominated by progressive ideology and detached from
national interests."

Digital rights under fire 

This is not the first time the US has targeted organizations that promote
digital rights. Last year, the Open Technology Fund (OTF) saw its budget cut
during broader cuts at US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). 

The OTF provides critical backing for anti-censorship technologies,  
including VPNs and Tor  as well as research advocating for global digital
rights. 

The group filed a legal challenge against the cuts in March 2025. While a
court injunction means the OTF is continuing to receive funding, litigation 
is ongoing. 

Other entities caught in the crosshairs include Freedom House, which 
publishes the annual Freedom on the Net report, and the National Endowment 
for Democracy (NED), which funds on-the-ground human rights and digital 
rights advocacy worldwide.

A blow to global coordination 

The loss of US support is expected to place significant strain on the Freedom
Online Coalition and the GFCE, affecting both their reach and resources. 

This, in turn, could severely hamper their capacity to achieve their stated
aims: improving internet freedoms and promoting cyber capacity and expertise
around the world. 

Combined with funding cuts to other international organizations, the digital
rights sector now faces unprecedented challenges. It remains unclear whether
other democratic nations have the capacity  or the political will  to step in
and match the scale of American support. 

In a statement, the GFCE said it "respects the decision of the US 
government." 

"The GFCE community remains fully committed to its shared mission of
strengthening cyber capacity through practical cooperation, 
knowledge-sharing, and multistakeholder engagement," the group added. 

TechRadar has reached out to the Freedom Online Coalition for comment. We 
will update (the article below) when they respond.

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/us-withdraws-from-internet-
freedom-bodies-it-deems-wasteful-ineffective-and-harmful

$$
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
 * Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/105)
SEEN-BY: 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 218/700
SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 134 206 275 300 307 317 400 426 428
SEEN-BY: 229/470 664 700 705 266/512 291/111 320/219 322/757 342/200
SEEN-BY: 396/45 460/58 633/280 712/848 902/26 2320/0 105 304 3634/12
SEEN-BY: 5075/35
PATH: 2320/105 229/426