New OONI Report Documents Global Censorship of Women on Web Across Multiple Countries

A new report released today by Women on Web (WoW) and Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) documents evidence of the blocking of Women on Web domains across at least seven countries, which is an increase from three countries where blockages were documented in 2019. The findings of the report show that internet censorship is increasingly being used to restrict access to abortion information and care online.

Abortion Access Denied: Investigating the Global Censorship of Women on Web analyzes OONI network measurement data collected between November 2025 and April 2026. OONI documented evidence of blockages in Iran, Türkiye, the Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Kuwait and Argentina. The report also documents corporate firewall blocking affecting access to Women on Web domains in Poland, Kenya, Pakistan, and Georgia. Researchers observed a range of censorship techniques, including DNS tampering, TLS interference, injected block pages, connection resets, and IP blocking to impede internet users from accessing Women on Web’s sites.

“OONI data shows that users attempting to access Women on Web in these countries are often met with messages stating that the domain does not exist or with other generic network errors. These forms of interference obscure the fact that access is being intentionally restricted, making censorship less visible to affected users. It is especially concerning to observe the blocking of Women on Web in European countries such as Spain, where abortion is legal.”

Maria Xynou, Director of Strategic Engagement, Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)

In many of the countries that block WoW, abortion seekers already face severe legal restrictions and other barriers to abortion care. Blocking trusted sources of medically accurate information and online services, like WoW, can further isolate people seeking care and increase the risks associated with unsafe abortion.

“Website censorship is a powerful tool for restricting access to abortion. Increasingly, people are self-managing their abortions and obtaining abortion pills online, and it is no coincidence that we are seeing a rise in censorship at the same time. We wish we did not have to fight this battle too, but regardless of what happens, we are committed to challenging these blocks in court and providing alternative ways to access our websites and consultations. People deserve to be able to access abortion care on their own terms.”

Venny Ala-Siurua, Executive Director, Women on Web

Since the publication of the first joint report with OONI, Women on Web has been pursuing strategic litigation in Spain, Turkey, and South Korea to challenge the blocking of its websites in the courts. This year, the case in Spain will be brought before the European Court of Human Rights. Women on Web has also launched a Digital Rights Program focused on advancing advocacy and research at the intersection of digital rights and abortion rights, developing and testing new pro-abortion technologies, building anti-censorship infrastructure, and sharing digital resilience strategies, tactics, and solutions across the broader reproductive justice movement.

In response to increasing digital threats to abortion information and care, Women on Web has partnered with eQualitie to create The A-Line, a centralized resource for technology solutions, digital resilience strategies, and anti-censorship tactics designed to help reproductive justice organizations navigate website blocking, cyberattacks, and social media suppression. Through the A-Line, abortion activists and providers under threat can access secure hosting infrastructure, website protection, and bespoke solutions to counter online threats. The A-Line can also assist in restoring social media accounts and content through trusted partnerships.

Through initiatives like The A-Line, WoW will continue to build partnerships with technologists and activists to keep abortion online.