re: connect
A hackathon where you build under real censorship conditions and test with real users inside Russia.
who we are
The hackathon is over — read the results post on OVD-Info's Telegram channel!
OVD-Info is the largest independent human rights helpline in Russia. For 14 years, we've been providing emergency legal aid to people facing political persecution — supporting political prisoners, and documenting every case of repression we see. Since 2011, we've become the primary source of real-time data on political persecution in Russia.
the problem
Every week, Russian authorities find new ways to cut off communication, blocking messengers, throttling VPNs, shutting down mobile internet across entire regions. When someone is detained or raided at home, the window to reach our helpline is measured in minutes. Sometimes seconds.
OVD-Info has operated the largest political persecution helpline in Russia for over a decade. We've relied on Telegram, mobile hotline, and email. But Telegram in Russia can only be accessed with the VPN. The phone calls aren't safe when you're in custody. Email is too slow for emergencies. We need channels that work when everything else is down and we need people who know how to build them.
There is another aspect of this problem. We know about existing solutions like Briar, SimpleX, Tor or mesh networks. But making them work for a non-technical person under stress in a country with active censorship is a different kind of challenge. We want the solution to be accessible for not only security geeks. And this is where we're stuck.
Three open problems, many possible solutions. Each track is built around a real operational challenge. You'll work with real data, real constraints, and real people on the other end of the line. Using a shutdown generator, we'll simulate real-world conditions and ask volunteers in Russia to test your solutions. This will give you the opportunity to test your hypotheses in a very real context.
01 infra & channels
Telegram, the main channel of communication between Russian activists and OVD-Info and other human rights organizations, has already been blocked. Thanks to the widespread use of VPNs, tens of millions of people retain access, but Russian authorities are actively combating this and developing ways to make Telegram and other independent platforms inaccessible. We're building a universal gateway to our helpdesk system that lets us plug in any alternative messenger as a new input.
Signal, Delta Chat, Matrix, Briar, SimpleX, Session — and whatever comes next. Your job: make this gateway work, write connectors, or propose something better. The goal: no single blocking decision can cut us off.
02 data & ai
Our helpline is one of the most trusted sources on political repression in Russia. The data is sensitive, the volume is growing, and we need AI that works without exposing anyone.
Authorities constantly invent new forms of pressure, and we often learn about emerging trends from the messages people send us. Hundreds a month, across multiple channels. Analyzing them manually is no longer sustainable. We need AI-assisted triage and analytics that spot patterns fast, but this data is extraordinarily sensitive. In the wrong hands, it becomes a tool for persecution. Help us build an analytics tool that shows the full picture without showing faces.
03 hack & media
Russian authorities are herding people onto state-controlled platforms to easily access all their data and control communications. We're not going to sit around and wait for censorship to end on its own.
The face of this approach: the Max messenger — government-developed spyware that tracks your location and your other mobile apps, runs a VPN service, and exposes everything you message to Russian siloviki. We want people inside Russia to have real, trustworthy alternatives. In this track, we welcome your creativity and diverse expertise: anti-surveillance campaigns, patches to open-source tools, real-time circumvention hubs, creative distribution of uncensored information, and the strategy to get it to people who need it.
what you get
This is worth your weekend.
We'll simulate actual Russian blocking conditions on-site: DPI, throttling, DNS poisoning. You'll build and break things against the same environment your users face.
OVD-Info coordinates 5,000+ verified, motivated volunteers on the ground. During the hackathon, they'll test your solutions inside Russia.
Hands-on sessions with alternative communication hardware and protocols.
Projects actively operating inside Russia share their experience: what works, what gets blocked, and why. Unique research and intel from the frontline.
Engineers, security researchers, circumvention specialists, civic tech leaders — people who've been working on these problems for years and are ready to help you solve them in three days.
Best solutions not only become part of OVD-Info's infrastructure, but also get shared with other organizations. This isn't a hackathon where prototypes go on a shelf.
Non-monetary but good. From friends of the project across the European civic tech and security community.
A great space in Berlin with rooftop access. Food and coffee for all three days. Afterparty in the finale.
format & logistics
faq
A hackathon is an intensive event where small teams build working prototypes in a short time (usually 2–3 days). You come with skills, form a team on-site, pick a challenge, and build a solution from scratch. At re:connect, each team presents progress at checkpoints throughout the event, gets feedback from mentors, and shows a working demo at the end. No prior hackathon experience needed.
On June 4, Rosfinmonitoring added OVD-Info to its so-called list of terrorists and extremists. We've prepared a detailed guide on how to protect yourself when interacting with us — please read it. Unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that there is a risk that taking part in the Hackathon could be interpreted as involvement in extremist activity, which may lead to criminal prosecution. We ask you to assess this risk very seriously, especially if you live in Russia or plan to travel there. On our side, we will provide security measures and special protocols both at the Hackathon itself and online. You can also participate anonymously. If you have any questions about safety, email us at hackathon@ovdinfo.org
This is one of our core design constraints. Security for end users is built into every track. Mentors with deep experience in adversarial environments will review all solutions for threat modeling and operational security.
Absolutely. We need strong technical skills and motivation. We'll provide all the context about the problem space during the hackathon itself.
You can come with a team or join one at the hackathon. On Day 1, track owners present the challenges in detail, and you choose your track. We'll help match people with complementary skills. Teams are typically 3–6 people.
Day 1 (evening): opening, challenge presentations, team formation. Days 2–3: intensive work with mentor sessions and checkpoints throughout. Final presentations on Day 3 afternoon. Afterparty in the evening. Detailed schedule will be sent to confirmed participants before the event.
Three groups, three perspectives. Mentors (field experts) evaluate creativity and technical strength. Track owners (OVD-Info's team) evaluate how well your solution fits the real needs of the organization and the people who reach out for help. All participants vote on presentations at checkpoints. Prizes go to teams which stand out across these 3 evaluations.
The best solutions become part of OVD-Info's infrastructure and are shared with other human rights organizations. We have the engineering team and resources to maintain and deploy them. You can continue as a volunteer contributor, or wrap up after the hackathon — no obligations.
No. The hackathon runs in English and Russian. All key materials and challenge briefs will be available in English.
No. We welcome participants from anywhere. The hackathon takes place in Berlin.
We're unable to cover travel costs or visa support, but we're happy to help you find a hotel, navigate Berlin, and get to the venue. Email us at hackathon@ovdinfo.org and we'll help you sort it out.
Let us know in your application or email us directly.
about us
OVD-Info is an independent project fighting for human rights and against repressions in Russia.
More info about us here.