Publish at September 22 2008 Updated February 11 2026
Psiphon 's ability to bypass censorship on the Internet challenges governmental restrictions on the right of access to information.
Developed by researchers at the University of Toronto and the Munk Centre for International Studies, Psiphon is an open-source software program that enables anyone to access the web in complete confidentiality from anywhere. A small revolution for Internet users from censored areas.
How does it work? On a sponsorship basis. An Internet user residing in a democratic country downloads the software and gives one or more people from a censored country password access to a relay server located in an uncensored zone. Data confidentiality is ensured by SSL encryption, usually used for banking transactions and therefore almost impossible to block by a state. Once encrypted, the message cannot be intercepted or traced. However, as we all know, there needs to be a bond of trust between the server owner and people from censored areas.
Psiphon won first prize at the Netxplorateur Forum in Paris.
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