Blueprint for Free Speech (B4FS) is a non-governmental organization based in Australia focused on research relating to and advocacy in support of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly with regard to whistleblowers. ^{1 2}

Background

In 2014, Blueprint for Free Speech (sometimes referred to simply as Blueprint or stylized as B4FS) was founded by Suelette Dreyfus, a cybersecurity activist and scholar based at the University of Melbourne, as a nonprofit non-governmental organization. The organization’s focus is engaging in research and advocacy in support of of Article 19 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which asserts freedoms of opinion and expression, particularly with regard to political and corporate whistleblowing. ^{1 2}

Though the organization is based in Australia, it is also active in Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, and the United States. ¹

Activities

Aside from engaging in advocacy, Blueprint for Free Speech publishes research and analysis of legislation from different countries relating to public interest, disclosure, defamation, shield, internet publishing, and freedom of information laws; develops software for the use of whistleblowers and journalists such as Ricochet Refresh and Gosling, tools that allow application developers to add anonymizing features to their projects; and provides legal and logistic support services to journalists in Germany. ²

Lobbying

In 2021, according to a government filing, Blueprint for Free Speech engaged the Sonoran Policy Group LLC to lobby on its behalf in the United States. ³

On May 15, 2024, Blueprint for Free Speech registered with European Union Transparency Register in connection with its lobbying activity. In particular, the organization noted its interest in the passage and implementation of the European Union Directive regarding SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) policies, as well as the transposition of the EU Directive protecting whistleblowers in the public interest. To that end on May 16, 2024 a representative of the organization met with a member of the cabinet of then-European Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova, alongside a lobbyist from the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation. ⁴

Funding

As part of its registration with the European Union Transparency Register, Blueprint for Free Speech disclosed it had received a grant of 28,234 euros (just short of $30,000 USD) from the European Commission’s Justice Programme, a program of the EU’s executive arm. ⁴

Partners

Partner organizations of Blueprint for Free Speech include aligned groups such as the Anti-Corruption Research and Education Center in Ukraine, People’s Action for Accountability and Good Governance in Zambia, Baltasar Garzon International Foundation in Spain, O.P.T.F. in Australia, EAT Project, Whistleblowing International Network in Scotland, Filtra.la in Spain, Centre for Free Expression in Canada, Center for Independent Journalism in Romania, Transparency International Greece, Atlatszo.hu in Hungary, GlobaLeaks in Italy, Fondatsiya Tsentar Za Razvitie Na Mediite (also known as the Media Development Center) in Croatia and Bulgaria, Ozivení in Czechia, Good Lobby Italia, Initiative 11in Ukraine, Electronic Frontiers Australia, Digital Rights Watch in Australia, Platform for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Africa, and A Change of Direction. ⁵

Leadership

Suelette Dreyfus is the executive director and founder of Blueprint for Free Speech as well as a cybersecurity and consumer privacy researcher at the School of Computing and Information Systems at the University of Melbourne, Australia. ^{6 1}

Naomi Colvin is the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Belgium program director at Blueprint for Free Speech as well as a research fellow with the Disruption Network Institute. ^{1 7}

Philipp Wissing is the coordinator of the German NoSLAPP project for Blueprint for Free Speech as well as the coordinator of German activities for the Pioneering anti-SLAPP Training for Freedom of Expression Project.¹

1. “Our Team.” Blueprint for Free Speech. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.blueprintforfreespeech.net/en/about-us/team.
2. “What We Do.” Blueprint for Free Speech. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.blueprintforfreespeech.net/en/about-us/what-we-do-1.
3. “Blueprint for Free Speech Inc.” Legistorm. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.legistorm.com/organization/summary/171905/Blueprint_for_Free_Speech_Inc_.html.
4. “Blueprint for Free Speech.” LobbyFacts.eu. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/blueprint-for-free-speech?rid=357351592008-46.
5. “Our Partners.” Blueprint for Free Speech. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.blueprintforfreespeech.net/en/about-us/partners.
6. “Suelette Dreyfus.” International Journalism Festival. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://www.journalismfestival.com/speaker/suelette-dreyfus.
7. “Research Fellows: Naomi Colvin: Research: Bio.” Disruption Network Institute. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://disruption.institute/fellows/naomi-colvin.