RavniBG: How to protect defenders in the digital environment?

The BlueLink Foundation team has launched a new initiative as part of the "RavniBG" coalition, aimed at protecting civic activists online. The new project will run until November 30, 2026, and aims to investigate and raise awareness about the pressure faced by defenders of human rights, nature, and the climate in the digital environment. The project is implemented with the financial support of the Solidarity Fund of the Civil Association, with funds provided by the Bulgarian Women’s Fund (BWF).

The new initiative builds on the successful experience of "BlueLink" from the spring of 2025, when the series "Strategic Use of IT by Human Rights Defenders: 7 Stories from RAVNI BG" was published. Having previously brought visibility to important causes and advocacy efforts online, the foundation’s team is now logically shifting its focus to the safety of the activists themselves.

Amid growing political polarization in recent years, activists and organizations that speak out publicly in defense of democratic and environmental causes are increasingly becoming targets of online smear campaigns, fake news, troll campaigns, threats, hate speech, and cyberattacks. This pressure threatens not only the safety of individuals but also the ability of civil society to participate fully in public debate.

The main goal of the new project is to improve the ability of organizations that are members of “RavniBG” to defend themselves and resist pressure. The initiative will enhance the capacity and digital self-defense capabilities of the civil society sector through systematic data collection, the involvement of experts in cybersecurity, law, and public communication, as well as through the exchange of experience within the coalition.

Within the framework of the study, the BlueLink team will conduct a broad survey using a questionnaire and a series of in-depth interviews with activists to identify their experiences, specific needs, and best practices for protection in the Bulgarian context. The analysis and findings will be presented at a specialized conference and compiled into a report, which will be published online at the end of the project.

In the long term, the initiative aims to foster a culture of mutual support and solidarity against online attacks, naturally complementing BlueLink’s long-term advocacy efforts to protect the environment through the BeLIFE project.

The project is implemented with the financial support of the Solidarity Fund of the civil society organization “RavniBG.” The funds were provided to the Bulgarian Women’s Fund (BWF) under the “Strong and Resilient Civil Society in Europe” program of the European philanthropic initiative for democracy and solidarity, Civitates, of the Network of European Foundations.

“BlueLink” carries out these activities as part of the implementation of the BeLIFE project, co-financed by the European Union’s LIFE program. All views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the donors.