Online actions, no matter how trivial they may seem, can have significant consequences. Clicking on a seemingly harmless link in an email could expose your device to malware. Unbeknownst to many, cellphone plan providers might be tracking all the websites you visit. In certain countries, accessing some websites might not even be possible. This is largely due to the fact that one of the fundamental technologies that power the internet was not initially designed with security, privacy and censorship considerations.
When you visit a website, your browser converts a URL such as “www.wikipedia.org” into an IP address—a string of numbers. To achieve this, your computer or phone queries a DNS resolver—an online service that functions like an internet address book—to provide the IP address of the website you intend to visit.
This process is not inherently private. Many individuals use web browsers like Chrome, Firefox or Safari without realizing that their browsing habits could potentially be accessed without their knowledge. This is often because the default DNS resolver does not incorporate privacy protections. This issue prompted the creation of Quad9—a global DNS resolver with privacy guarantees built in from inception. Additionally, Quad9 enhances security by refusing to resolve known malware, spyware, spam and phishing URLs.
The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has played a pivotal role in promoting online privacy. Mallory Knodel, CDT's chief technology officer, recently helped launch a new human rights advisory council for Quad9. The announcement of this advisory council coincided with the NetMundial+10 meeting held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in late April 2024. This pioneering initiative brings together esteemed professionals who will consider the privacy, equity and human rights implications of Quad9’s operations—marking a significant step towards protecting privacy and equity across its global internet architecture.
Quad9 is a nonprofit organization known for its robust privacy guarantees and security benefits; it operates over 240 points of presence in more than 110 countries. Knodel will chair the new council, which comprises distinguished members that reflect Quad9’s global reach. These include Bob Ochieng of ICANN in Kenya; Pablo Hinojosa of APNIC in Australia; Tara Tarakiyee of the Sovereign Tech Fund in Germany; Serge Droz, board member of FIRST; Lars Eggert, former IETF chair and engineer at Mozilla; Seeta Peña Gangadharan at the London School of Economics and Political Science; Lai Yi Ohlsen of Measurement Lab in New York; Urvashi Aneja at the Digital Futures Lab in India; and Shane Kerr of IBM Amsterdam.
In the technology space, initiatives that consider privacy, security and human rights from inception are quite rare. This makes Knodel’s work with Quad9 and the council particularly significant. By supporting initiatives like Quad9 and its human rights advisory council, we not only protect our privacy and security online but also endorse trusted providers that are accountable to public interest.
