The library profession is all about a sharing of information – and this program is an interesting strategy for sharing information with a population that is very information-needy.

It is called Flash Drives for Freedom. “Believe it or not, USBs are a significant form of sharing information in North Korea. Many citizens have devices with USB ports. So for many years, North Korean defectors have organized efforts to smuggle outside info into North Korea on USB drives to counter Kim Jong-un’s constant propaganda. But these groups were buying USB drives at cost with limited resources. Flash Drives For Freedom is a campaign that travels the world inspiring people to donate their own USB drives. As a collaboration between the Human Rights Foundation, Forum 280, and USB Memory Direct, Flash Drives for Freedom is significantly increasing the capacities of these North Korean defector groups.”

“How it works:

Mail in your USB drives or donate cash to purchase drives. Every dollar donated in cash is equivalent to one drive.

The USB drives are erased, logos are removed, and are filled with content proven to inspire North Koreans to disbelieve Kim Jong-Un’s propaganda and take a stand. Content includes e-books, films, and an offline Korean Wikipedia.

The drives are smuggled into the country using many different methods. A healthy black market distributes the drives throughout North Korea. The majority of North Koreans have access to devices that can read USB drives.”

I heard about this program on the podcast Darknet Diaries. Their episode called FDFF.

“In this episode, we’re going into the depths of North Korea to conduct one of the greatest hacks of all time. To find a way to inject information into a country run by totalitarian regime.

A big thanks to Yeonmi Park for sharing her story with us. Also thanks to Alex Gladstein for telling us the inside story.”

And you can read Yeonmi Park’s book from Amazon: In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom.