In response to the ongoing internet censorship in Iran, Google’s Jigsaw has released a Software Developer Kit (SDK) for its VPN, Outline, that allows developers to integrate the service into their websites and apps.
Vinicius Fortuna, Jigsaw’s lead engineer for internet freedom, told MIT Technology Review that the SDK will allow developers to make their products resistant to draconian censorship in Iran and other parts of the world.
The Outline SDK will simplify the process of bypassing censorship by eliminating the need for a separate VPN connection.
The Fight Against Censorship
In countries with strict internet censorship laws, like Iran, many people turn to VPNs to access the web freely. However, authorities in these countries also tend to crack down on the use of virtual private network (VPN) services.
The decision to release an Outline SDK will provide a window for people to access the web freely despite such restrictions.
“This simplicity is also crucial because the Iranian government has made its own limited version of the internet and is offering access at cheaper rates for businesses and households. (It has also forced telecoms to hand over direct access to their networks and user information.) Users in Iran who want to avoid being surveilled or to access blocked websites have to put up with clumsy toggling back and forth between the intranet and the wider internet, often at higher prices,” MIT Technology Review said.
Outline is a VPN service that allows users to create and manage their own servers. It uses the Shadowsocks protocol, which encrypts and obfuscates internet traffic to evade censorship and surveillance.
“Outline works when other VPNs are blocked and is resistant to sophisticated forms of censorship like network-based or IP blocking,” according to the Outline VPN website. “Outline is more resilient because it is built using a protocol that is designed to be difficult to detect and therefore harder to block.”
It usually takes a long time for developers to adapt to changing censorship tactics, but the SDK may make the process faster.
“Importantly, during crackdowns, the SDK will make it easier for developers from different companies to work on the same code and enable them to run updates more efficiently, allowing for quicker responses to evolving censorship tactics,” MIT Technology Review noted.
Outline SDK is not a Silver Bullet to Censorship
While the SDK represents a significant advance, it is not a silver bullet. “Sustainable, censorship-resistant technology will require ongoing attention,” Roya Ensafi, a professor at the University of Michigan, said.
As the battle for internet freedom continues to escalate, as is the case in Russia and other parts of the world, Jigsaw’s new SDK is a potent weapon, providing a simplified and user-friendly way to evade censorship.
While Jigsaw is making strides in anti-censorship technology with its Outline SDK, it’s also venturing into other arenas to make the internet safer. One such initiative is the Perspective API, designed to combat online abuse and harassment.
Iran’s regime blocks or throttles many popular websites and apps, including Telegram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. According to a 2023 Freedom House report, Iran ranks among the worst countries in the world for internet freedom, scoring only 16 out of 100 points.
Read our guide to internet censorship in Iran to learn about the restrictions and how to bypass them. Despite efforts to block VPNs, many top VPN providers, like ExpressVPN, are continuously working on their service to allow users to access the web freely from Iran and other parts of the world.
Outline VPN is a free, open-source tool developed by Jigsaw, a tech incubator created by Google. It claims not to store any user data.
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