"Fallback provides a backup right when it is needed."
Access to information is a primary human right.
Internet Shutdowns have become one of the defining tools of government repression and information control in the 21st century. They directly infringe the right of access to information which often exacerbates and hides grave human rights violations. Authoritarian regimes have realized that this rudimentary and crude technique is an efficient way to suppress people within a region and even an entire nation. Statistics show the frequency of internet shutdowns doubling annually.
Fallback is an alternative platform providing access to information during times of internet shutdown. Fallback employs alternative technologies for social good and brings normalcy in accessing information.
BKQY Team members -
Bahareh Saboktakin, Khulood Alawadi, Qifan Zhao, Yi-Fan Hsieh
Bahareh Saboktakin, Khulood Alawadi, Qifan Zhao, Yi-Fan Hsieh
Internet shutdown catches people off guard.
"We did not have any idea what was happening a few blocks away let alone in other cities." - Anonymous interviewee
"We did not have any idea what was happening a few blocks away let alone in other cities." - Anonymous interviewee
What if we can empower people's awareness
of the internet shutdown and giving an alternative?
Can the impact of internet shutdown be mitigated and people have the right of choice?
of the internet shutdown and giving an alternative?
Can the impact of internet shutdown be mitigated and people have the right of choice?
The Internet Shutdown Prediction
Fallback's prediction algorithm will be done by evaluating several metrics such as the frequency which certain keywords appear in different online platforms. We were able to verify the existence of a rising pattern of these keyword hits during past Internet shutdowns.
Fallback's prediction algorithm will be done by evaluating several metrics such as the frequency which certain keywords appear in different online platforms. We were able to verify the existence of a rising pattern of these keyword hits during past Internet shutdowns.
Fallback online platform
Fallback provides with not only a dashboard for customisation and subscription, but also access to real-time internet shutdown predictions for public.
Fallback provides with not only a dashboard for customisation and subscription, but also access to real-time internet shutdown predictions for public.
The Portals
The hardware Fallback provide is triggered by the prediction algorithm which uses machine learning to keep analysing the past cases and forecasting the high risk. Once there is a high risk of internet shutdown, the portal starts to work.
Portal receives data over satellite, decrypts it, formats it into news articles and makes them available via its own WiFi access point where no Internet is required. Then any WiFi enabled devices can connect to the portal in order to receive the latest news and messages.
Portal receives data over satellite, decrypts it, formats it into news articles and makes them available via its own WiFi access point where no Internet is required. Then any WiFi enabled devices can connect to the portal in order to receive the latest news and messages.
The Interface
Fallback interface will pops up and user can access the news through the text-based UI in order to maintain the experience of browsing online.
