# SHOUT - An Encrypted SMS Solution for Internet Outages

**SHOUT SMS** is an ***open-source***, ***offline-first*** messaging app enabling secure, ***end-to-end encrypted*** communication, with image sending and receiving support via SMS-without data, internet, or centralized accounts.

Designed to increase digital resilience for civil society in adversarial environments, it supports humanitarians, journalists, and human rights defenders facing internet shutdowns, surveillance, and infrastructure failure. In contexts like Ukraine, Sudan, and Myanmar data networks are often intentionally shut down, heavily surveilled, or knocked offline during crisis or conflicts. SHOUT allows users to send data over the SMS network, as well as secure messages, increasing digital resilience and connectivity.

The app is supported by research efforts investigating the human experience of internet shutdowns, and political and technical causes of digital repression in Sudan, Eritrea, and Uganda.

## Current Status

#### ✅ DONE

| Task | Responsible | Progress |
|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------|
| Local testing partner recruitment | SHOUT | **Completed** |
| Inception Report | Rochester Institute of Technology | **Minor Updates In Progress** |
| Encryption Design | Operator Foundation | **Completed** |
| **First Testing in Uganda** | Gisa & Local Partners | **Completed** |

#### 🔄 IN PROGRESS

| Task | Responsible | Progress |
|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------|
| Topography Report | RIT & OKThanks | **In Progress** |
| UI/UX Design Research | OKThanks | **In Progress** |
| App Development | SHOUT | **In Progress, aim for Pre-Alpha by Late FEB** |

#### 🛠️ NEXT STEPS

| Task | Responsible | Progress |
|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------|
| Usability Testing | Okthanks | **Upcoming, FEB** |
| Visual Identity | OKThanks | **Upcoming** |
| Training Material and Plan for Partners | SHOUT | **In Progress** |

#### 🚀 Soft Launch at RightsCon 2026 🚀

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## Stay Connected - Be Part of the SHOUT Network!

We are always looking for feedback, suggestions, shared experiences, testers, or just friends! Please stay connected if you:

* Are interested in technology for internet shutdown circumvention
* Have experienced an [Internet Shutdown](https://www.accessnow.org/campaign/keepiton/)
* Have worked in areas where internet connectivity is unreliable
* Want to help people who experience internet shutdowns
* Want to help researchers studying the causes and human experience impacts of internet shutdowns and digital repression
* Are interested in testing SHOUT

**Email:** [e-mail]

## Who made SHOUT?

SHOUT SMS is a long-term project developed by Collaborative Futures, the international R&D lab of the regional NGO, Gisa Group. Gisa Group was originally based in Sudan until the recent conflict, and is now based in Kenya with 501c3 status in the US.