Digital Security and Privacy for Human Rights Defenders
Digital Security
Human rights defenders are increasingly using computers and the Internet in their work. Although access to technology is still a huge issue around the world, electronic means of storing and communicating information are getting more and more common in human rights organisations. However, governments are also developing the capacity to manipulate, monitor and subvert electronic information. Surveillance and censorship is growing and the lack of security for digitally stored or communicated information is becoming a major problem for human rights defenders in some countries.
In response to requests from human rights defenders for support in this area Front Line has developed a manual on Digital Security and Privacy for Human Rights Defenders.
In collaboration with the Tactical Technology Collective Front Line has also developed a package of tools and training materials called the NGO in a Box; Security Edition (also watch a video on NGO in a Box; Security Edition).
We are publishing a series of articles in the CIVICUS Monthly Bulletin highlighting practical ways you can increase your digital security and privacy:
- 0. Introduction, January 2008 (at Civicus server and version in Russian)
- 1. Roots of (in)security: Protecting your computer, February 2008 (at Civicus server and version in Russian)
- 2. Away from prying eyes: Protecting your information from unauthorised access, March 2008 (at Civicus server and version in: Russian)
- 3. Guarding Against Information Loss, April 2008 (at Civicus server and version in: Russian)
- 4. Deleted, but not gone..., May 2008 (at Civicus server and version in: Russian)
- 5. Keep your private communication really private, July 2008
- 6. Bypassing Internet censorship & publishing anonymously on the Web, September - October 2008
Front Line has also organised training workshops for human rights defenders with experts in the field of digital security in Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, India (for neighbour countries), Jordan (for Iraq and Syria), Russia (also for Central Asia), Tunisia and Morocco (for the Middle East region), United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Please see the following resources for further information in relation to digital security:
- Anonymous Blogging with Wordpress and Tor (version in: Chinese, French) by Global Voices Advocacy
- Blog for a Cause!: The Global Voices Guide of Blog Advocacy (version in: Chinese, Spanish, French) by Global Voices Advocacy
- Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents (version in: French, Chienese - Circumvent Censorship chapter, Chinese - Blog Anonymously chapter) by Reporters Without Borders