(Tech Defenders links tech community to protect human rights defenders)

Tech Defenders, a new frontline group comprised of the tech community, kicked off in Dublin on 14 May 2013 to support and protect people fighting for human rights in oppressive countries.

The launch of Tech Defenders is just one event on behalf of Dublin-based international human rights organisation Front Line Defenders.

IBM hosted the launch of Tech Defenders in front of a group of invited guests. Activist, blogger and technology specialist Ahmad Gharbeia, executive director of the Arab Digital Expression Foundation and Front Line Defenders’ head of technology, Wojtek Bogusz, addressed the group.

In a statement, Chris Horn and Karlin Lillington said

“Advancements in digital communications are used by repressive governments more than ever before to limit access to digital information about human rights and human rights defenders”.

“They also monitor and disrupt communications between activists, to track and capture not only individual activists, but their entire networks, through the confiscation of a single phone or laptop.”