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System Overview

GlobalMonitor is a comprehensive censorship tracking system designed to monitor website accessibility around the world. This documentation provides technical and user guidance for understanding, using, and managing the system.

Architecture​

GlobalMonitor consists of three main components:

1. Frontend Application​

A Next.js web application providing:

  • Interactive world map visualization
  • Country-specific analytics
  • Administrative interfaces
  • User authentication

2. Worker Service​

A background service that:

  • Connects to proxies in different countries
  • Performs website accessibility checks
  • Processes results and calculates scores
  • Makes decisions about blocking status

3. Database​

A PostgreSQL database storing:

  • Check configurations and results
  • Country and region data
  • Website origins and mirrors
  • User authentication data
  • Historical results and decisions

Data Flow​

  1. Configuration: Administrators configure websites to monitor and proxies to use
  2. Scheduling: The worker schedules checks based on priority and timing
  3. Execution: Checks are performed through proxies in target countries
  4. Analysis: Results are analyzed to determine blocking status
  5. Visualization: The frontend displays results on a world map with detailed analytics

Key Concepts​

Origins & Mirrors​

  • Origins: Original websites being monitored (e.g., nytimes.com)
  • Mirrors: Alternative access points for the same content (e.g., bypass proxies)

Checks & Results​

  • Checks: Configuration for testing website accessibility
  • Results: Outcomes of accessibility tests
  • Decisions: Determinations of blocking status based on multiple results

Proxies & Providers​

  • Proxy Providers: Services offering proxy endpoints in multiple countries
  • Proxies: Individual connection points in specific countries