Contd. Implications for Internet users in Geedge client countries to bypass censorship face considerable risks. Even the use of established and reputable VPN providers does not guarantee anonymity, as Geedge’s systems can be leveraged to identify and target individuals circumventing censorship. In countries where the use of VPNs and other circumvention tools is permitted, individuals may perceive a greater degree of online security. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that even in these environments, risks remain. Geedge’s technology allows governments to retroactively identify and track users who previously employed blocked VPNs, highlighting the persistent threat of surveillance and control. This capability underscores the ongoing challenge of maintaining online privacy and freedom of expression in the face of increasingly sophisticated censorship technologies. Furthermore, the potential for governments to compel VPN providers to disclose user data remains a concern, even in jurisdictions with strong data protection laws. Implications for tech communities that care about free and open internet The development and maintenance of circumvention tools and internet protocols are critical to preserving access to information. However, the sophistication of the techniques employed by Geedge demands a new level of collaboration and foresight from across the free and open internet technology community. The findings from this research related to Geedge’s efforts to identify anti-censorship applications and their users compel developers of circumvention tools to work together to strategize and potentially revise their approach to security and effectiveness. Hardening VPN apps against reverse engineering could be a useful measure to prevent censors from obtaining sensitive information. Additionally, by incorporating dynamic domain name system (DNS) and IP address rotation into their designs, they can make it more difficult for censors to identify and block all servers used by a particular VPN. Similarly, we believe that this research should push internet protocol designers to consider the implications of state-sponsored mass surveillance and censorship when creating new protocols. By incorporating security features into future designs, they can create more censorship-resistant internet protocols that prioritize user privacy and freedom. Email protocols are particularly vulnerable to surveillance by these tools, and implementing a system to warn users when a message is received without Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption could be an important step in promoting secure communication practices.  These are just some initial ideas of how the tech community can respond to this challenge, based on our initial analysis. Moving forward, stakeholders across the sector should convene to discuss these approaches and collaboratively develop responsive and comprehensive solutions to make these technologies more resistant and resilient.