About Calyx
The Calyx Institute defends digital privacy, advances connectivity, and strives for a future where everyone has access to the resources and tools to remain securely connected.
We offer hands-on tools, such as the Calyx Hotspot, for people to access the internet easily wherever they are, especially in areas where options to get connected are limited or under-resourced. We build and maintain a privacy-by-design ecosystem of innovative free open-source software (FOSS), centering CalyxOS, that protects people from surveillance, hacking, and other breaches of consent. Through research, education, grants, and community capacity building, we support internet freedom that allows the public to make informed choices about their online lives.
Our history
The Calyx Institute was founded in 2010 by Nicholas Merrill to promote and defend the right to privacy in the digital age. As the owner of a small internet service provider, Merrill was the first person to file a constitutional challenge to the National Security Letter (NSL) statue in the USA Patriot Act in 2004. The case, settled ten years after it was filed, influenced how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) can acquire personal information. Inspired by this, Merrill founded the Calyx Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization, to raise awareness about online privacy, surveillance, and accessibility through software development, research advocacy, and cross-sector partnerships.
Through making technologies more secure and accessible, Calyx has become a large community of members and contributors, in the U.S. and globally. It has a stellar advisory panel, a diverse network of leading partners and funders, and a dedicated and passionate staff. With our members' generous support, we have been improving our tools to get more people securely connected, expanding the FOSS ecosystem, building capacity in digital security for communities in most need, and nurturing a culture toward data-secured, rights-centered, and equal access future.
Our value
We at Calyx believe that everyone has an equal right to access the internet and digital communications with security and personal data privacy. We strive to create a world where data protection is the norm and everyone is equipped with the means they need to make informed choices about their online lives. From our inception, we have been and remain committed to a revenue model that allows us to prioritize people and privacy over profit.
The Calyx Institute values:
Meet Our Team
Our Board