A new billboard campaign launched across London today has been designed to build awareness of consumer freedoms when they are using the web and online services. The campaign references the ability to speak about Russian politics online without becoming the victim of an “accident”, and comes after a growing number of suspicious deaths have been linked to those with opposing or questioning political views against the Russian government since the Ukrainian invasion began.
The campaign has been developed by VPN provider hide.me, a service that protects consumers from hackers, snoopers and malicious actors by enabling them to use the web freely and securely, and creative agency Spellcaster.
“Our campaign makes reference to Russia, but we could have chosen from a growing list of governments globally that are using people’s freedom’s online as a weapon against them,” commented Sebastian Schaub, CEO, hide.me. “We believe internet freedom isn’t a privilege but a fundamental human right. People should have freedom online without having to worry about their safety. That is why the usage of VPNs is growing exponentially globally and why VPNs are also now becoming a target for governments. The fact is free speech is under threat, and tools like a VPN are becoming a must for consumers.”
“This campaign is about making people aware of how the internet isn’t quite as free as we all think,” added Schaub.
“Our campaign doesn’t shy away from the fact that online privacy and personal data protection can literally mean the difference between life and death. We wanted to bring attention to this topic by addressing delicate situations that some people are interested in and want to be vocal about but don’t feel empowered to speak out,” added Kristijan Janušić, CMO, hide.me.
Launched in 2012, hide.me’s VPN platform protects the online freedoms of over 25 million people worldwide. Available as a free service and with a paid offering, hide.me’s feature-rich platform enables users to surf, stream and download securely from wherever they are. It also allows users to access geo-restricted content too.
