Billie Goodman

Around the world, digital rights groups do incredible work in nearly impossible conditions, defending human rights online even as war and conflict rages around them, or while subject to brutal repression from authoritarian governments. Despite these challenges, they persevere — because for the communities they serve, they may be the last line of defense, or even the difference between life and death.

Our Access Now Grants team is honored to resource “Community Defenders” — grant recipients who are grounded in lived experience, accountable to their communities, and driven by the needs and aspirations of their people. They represent and advocate for local marginalized groups and individuals, with whom they have shared history, identity, and collective demands. These grantees are rooted in broader struggles for justice, equity, and self-determination.

Among the groups we support through Access Now Grants, one stands out as the sometimes-unsung heroes of digital rights: the “Digital First Aiders.” They offer vital digital security and safety support to journalists, activists, and human rights defenders in their communities, delivered with the cultural awareness only local experts can provide. They represent the foundation for grassroots civil society — without their work, privacy and security crumbles, leaving everyone vulnerable to attack.