Neubot

Neubot is a free software tool designed to measure network neutrality and censorship events on internet connections. Developed by the Nexa Center for Internet & Society at the Politecnico di Torino, Neubot (short for "Network Neutrality Bot") aims to provide users and researchers with empirical data about internet performance and potential interference by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or governments.

Neubot functions by running a series of network tests that analyze various aspects of network connectivity, including:

• HTTP performance: Measuring the speed and reliability of accessing websites.
• DNS tampering: Detecting whether DNS requests are being altered or intercepted.
• BitTorrent blocking: Identifying if BitTorrent traffic is being throttled or blocked.
• TCP connection experiments: Assessing the ability to establish TCP connections to various ports and servers.
• Content Verification: Comparing the content received from a website with a known, un-censored version to detect tampering.

The data collected by Neubot is typically anonymized and aggregated to provide a broader picture of internet freedom and network performance in different regions. This data is then made publicly available for research purposes, allowing academics, policymakers, and activists to analyze trends and identify potential violations of network neutrality principles.

Neubot is often implemented as a software plugin or application that users can install on their computers, mobile devices, or routers. It is intended to be a passive measurement tool, running in the background and collecting data without requiring constant user intervention.

The project strives to promote transparency and accountability in the internet ecosystem, providing a means for individuals to contribute to a better understanding of how their internet connections are being managed and controlled. Neubot is actively maintained and updated to reflect the evolving landscape of internet technologies and censorship techniques.