Mission + Impact
Mission
Over the past decade, Lantern has become one of the most trusted and effective tools for bypassing internet censorship, with more than 250 million downloads worldwide. We’ve helped people access the open internet during some of the most sensitive political moments and in the face of the world’s most aggressive internet censorship..
We believe uncensored internet access is a human right. Our mission is to provide fast, secure, and reliable access to the open internet, empowering people everywhere to seek information freely and share their stories with the world.
Who we are
Lantern is developed by Brave New Software Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013. We work to expand access to the open internet, especially where platforms, websites, and communication tools are routinely blocked.
With over a decade of experience in heavily censored environments, we focus on privacy, transparency, and real-world impact. Our work is guided by the needs of people who depend on open access every day.
To protect our team and the communities we serve, we don't share staff details publicly. Our code is open source, independently audited, and built through community collaboration.
Our partners
We collaborate with organizations around the world that share our commitment to internet freedom, transparency, and human rights. Together, we support open access and resilient technologies for people living under censorship.
Open Internet for All
Why Access Matters
Blocked platforms
Governments routinely block messaging apps, social media, and independent news sites to control what people can see, say, and share. In high-stakes moments, access to information is often the first thing to disappear.
Censorship as control
Online censorship isn't just about restricting content. It's about limiting people's agency. By blocking access to platforms and information, governments isolate people from knowledge, connection, and support.
Trust
Choosing a VPN often means trusting a company you don’t know. We’re transparent about who we are and what we stand for. Lantern is open source, nonprofit-driven, and built by a team with years of experience operating in the harshest censorship environments.
How Lantern supports digital freedom
When you subscribe to Lantern Pro, you're not just getting a VPN, you're funding free access in heavily censored regions. Financial and legal barriers often make paid services impossible exactly where they're needed most.
Lantern serves people who need to bypass censorship and those who simply want a trustworthy VPN. Features like Unbounded let users share access directly, creating a volunteer network that reaches places traditional infrastructure can't.
Because Lantern is open source, independently audited, and never logs user activity, it meets the highest standards of transparency and safety, essential for the people who rely on it.