The Internet Freedom Fund (IFF) is the primary funding mechanism of the Open Technology Fund (OTF), aimed at supporting innovative global projects that advance internet freedom, combat digital censorship, and enhance cyber-security. The fund focuses on the development of open-source tools, applied research into censorship patterns, and digital defense deployment to ensure safe, inclusive, and unrestricted access to global communication networks, especially for journalists, human rights defenders, and at-risk communities.

Eligibility

The fund features highly inclusive global eligibility criteria:
- Open to individuals (regardless of nationality, age, or residency), non-profit organisations, open-source developers, startups, and social businesses.
- Applicants from across the globe (including Kazakhstan and Central Asia) are fully eligible to apply.
- Exclusion: OTF cannot support applicants residing within countries explicitly restricted by U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions.

OTF prioritizes projects submitted by first-time applicants, under-represented teams in the tech field, or those addressing severely underfunded digital safety niches.

Priority Areas
- Open-Source Technology Development (circumvention tools, encrypted messaging, secure protocols)
- Applied Research (usability audits, censorship tracking, threat modeling)
- Digital Security Ecosystem Upgrades (security frameworks, tools for at-risk communities)
- Community Convenings and Open-Source Tech Events