Posts Tagged ‘digital security’
September 30, 2014
On 6 October 2014 Front Line Defenders will be hosting US computer privacy expert and “digital security guru” Bruce Schneier as the key-note speaker for their second Annual Lecture [for those in Ireland: at 6.30 pm in the Trinity Biomedical Science Institute – tickets are available at: https://bruceschneierdublin2014.eventbrite.ie].
This talk, entitled “Is it Possible to be Safe Online? Human Rights Defenders and the Internet”, will explore the issues faced by human rights defenders and everyday people on the ground as the use of computers and the Internet in their work is becoming increasingly commonplace and the threats posed by governments manipulating, monitoring and subverting electronic information, increased surveillance and censorship and the lack of security for digitally communicated and stored information is on the rise. Called a “security guru” by The Economist, Schneier has authored 12 books – including Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust Society Needs to Thrive – as well as hundred of article, essays and academic papers. His influential newsletter Crypto-Gram and his blog Schneier on Security are read by over 250,000 worldwide.
via Is it Possible to be Safe Online? Human Rights Defenders & the Internet – lecture by Bruce Schneier – 06/10.
Posted in Front Line, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Bruce Schneier, censorship, digital security, Front Line (NGO), Human Rights Defenders, internet, Ireland, lecture, mass surveillance, monitoring, privacy, Protection on Line
June 23, 2014
Posted in AI, Amnesty international, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: AI, alert, Amnesty International, attack, digital security, google, Human Rights Defenders, Information and Communication Technology, kidnapping, mobile phones, Panic Button, protection, SMS, technology, torture
June 5, 2014
This week, Global Partners have published the first in their series of “Travel Guides” to the digital world: Internet Policy and Governance for Human Rights Defenders which Becky Hogge authored under contract to them last year.
The aim of the guide is to entice human rights defenders from the Global South to participate in the discussions happening now around our rights online. But it should also serve as a useful introduction to the technologies that underpin the ‘net and the people who can affect our lives online, from governments to corporations, hackers, hacktivists and everything in between.
Global Partners introduces the book as follows: How the internet operates and is governed affects the rights of users – a new field from which human rights expertise is currently absent. Civil society groups at the table are fighting an unequal fight, and urgently need the strength and depth that the human rights community can bring. It is time for human rights defenders to familiarise themselves with the internet, and prepare to defend human rights online. The typesetting and illustrations are by Tactical Studios.
The volume is released Creative Commons and you can download a free .pdf version: https://barefoottechie.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/travel-guide-to-the-digital-worlds.pdf.
Posted in books, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: Becky Hogge, book, creative commons, digital security, documentation, global Partners, Human Rights Defenders, information technology, internet, Internet Policy and Governance for Human Rights Defenders
May 30, 2014
The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, organised an expert meeting on The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age‘ (hosted by the Permanent Missions of Austria, Brazil, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Norway, and Switzerland) in Geneva on 24-25 February 2014. The right to privacy is of great practical importance to human rights defenders who are often in the firing line of (mass) surveillance. The report is short and very readable and makes an excellent long read for the weekend. To help those pressed for time, here is the Summary of conclusions:
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in books, Human Rights Defenders, UN | 1 Comment »
Tags: big data, communication, corporate accountability, digital security, freedom of expression, Geneva, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Human Rights Committee, internet, mass surveillance, meta data, privacy, self censorship, Special Rapporteur, Surveillance, the right to privacy, UN Human Rights Council
May 29, 2014
New Tactics is going to have a on-line conversation on the safe & effective use of documentation tools from 9 to 13 June 2014. They are looking to recruit 10 to 12 human rights practitioners to join Daniel D’Esposito of HURIDOCS and Enrique Piracés of Benetech to help lead the upcoming conversation on Working Safely and Effectively with Documentation Tools Documentation is a crucial aspect of the quest for justice, accountability and transparency.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, HURIDOCS | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Benetech, computer, Daniel D'Esposito, digital security, documentation, documentation tools, Enrique Piracés, human rights documentation, HURIDOCS, information technology, New Tactics in Human Rights, on-line conversations, perpetrators, training, victims
May 7, 2014
Having posted on the Natalia bracelet and the Panic Button recently as alarm systems for human rights defenders in danger, it is good to also draw attention to the dangers that are inherent in the ‘normal’ use of mobile phones. Tactical Tech has quite a bit to say about mobile phone security: Human Rights Defenders are exposed to many potential threats – from governments, private companies, organised groups – in the course of their work. Therefore, they should be aware of dangers and necessary security measures to be taken if deciding to communicate by mobile phone, which remains an easy-to-spy-on device. Tactical Tech has produced a number of resources about phone security.
Security in a Box has a chapter entitled “How to Use Smartphones as Securely as Possible” and one on using mobile phonesas securely as possible.
Me and My Shadow has a chapter on geolocation services for smartphones and the risks they carry, as well as tips for those using SMS and MMS.
Finally, have a look at the Guardian Project’s website, created by a group of activists dedicated to creating open source apps to increase security and privacy on smartphones.
via Mobile phone security | Exposing the Invisible.
https://thoolen.wordpress.com/tag/natalia-project/
https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/amnesty-releases-today-long-awaited-panic-button-for-human-rights-defenders/
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: digital security, electronic surveillance, Human Rights Defenders, mobile phone security, mobile phones, Natalia bracelet, Panic Button, right to privacy, Security-in-a-box, SMS, Tactical Tech, Tactical Tech Collective
May 2, 2014
As this blog testifies, across the globe, individuals suspected of posing a threat to state authority are routinely kidnapped, arrested and forcibly disappeared, often without any warning.Amnesty international launches today the easy-to-use app launched by Amnesty International. “Panic Button”, a mobile app for Android, transforms a user’s smart phone into a secret alarm which can be activated rapidly in the event of an emergency, alerting fellow activists and enabling them to respond faster.
“Defending human rights is an incredibly dangerous job in large parts of the world, with activists facing anything from threats to imprisonment and even torture as punishment for their legitimate work,” said Tanya O’Carroll, Technology and Human Rights Officer for Amnesty International. “By introducing technology to the fight for human rights ‘Panic Button’ is bringing them a new tool to alert others about the danger they may be facing with a simple click.”
AI is are currently working with HRDs in 16 countries on how to use the tool and on the growing and omnipresent threat of surveillance so they are clear on the risks they take when using a mobile phone in their work,but the official website for the “Panic Button” app is up and running.
[Amnesty International hopes that activists and members of the public will help to improve the tool by downloading and testing Panic Button in their country as part of the beta – or testing – phase. Authorities know that campaigners coordinate meetings, protests and other activities using mobile phones and have ramped up their surveillance capabilities to monitor and track activists, journalists and campaigners. In a bid to mitigate some of these dangers, the “Panic Button” tool uses a screen disguise feature and requires users to enter a pin number before accessing the application. The alarm itself is triggered by rapidly pressing the phone’s power button, after which an SMS message is sent to three pre-entered contacts chosen by the user, alerting them of the distress call. When a GPS function is enabled, this message includes a map link showing the user’s coordinates and the user can pre-set regular location updates so their network is updated every few minutes when active.]
via New ‘Panic Button’ app provides safety net to human rights activists | Amnesty International.
see also: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/technology-to-protect-human-rights-defenders-great-but-should-there-not-be-more-cooperation/
Posted in AI, Amnesty international, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: AI, alarm, Amnesty International, applications, digital security, human rights activists, Human Rights Defenders, information technology, mobile phone, mobile phones, Panic Button, protection, SMS, Solidarity
April 25, 2014
RIFT RECON announced on 16 April that it will join forces with the Human Rights Foundation to present a comprehensive security workshop at the 2014 Oslo Freedom Forum ‘OFF’ from 12-14 May 2014. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights Foundation | Leave a Comment »
Tags: communication, digital security, electronic surveillance, Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights Foundation, OFF, RIFT RECON, safety, security, Thor Halvorssen, training course
April 24, 2014
The Natalia Project [http://www.nataliaproject.org], the assault alarm for human rights defenders which I referred to in previous posts, won two gold and one silver at the 53rd annual Guldägget Awards in Stockholm. Guldägget [Golden Egg] is Sweden’s oldest and most prestigious competition in creative communication. The Natalia Project earned recognition for using innovative technology to safeguard individuals at risk. In his acceptance speech, Robert Hårdh of Civil Rights Defenders said, “This campaign is for real, it saves lives.” The Natalia Project was launched in April 2013 as a security solution for human rights activists at risk. In the case of an assault, a wearer can directly notify the Civil Rights Defenders, as well as the world through social media. PFO Tech developed the assault alarm bracelet, GPS tracking system and social media integration behind the Natalia Project. The bracelet and system, which is easily integrated into individual company security platforms, now protects journalists and human rights defenders around the world.
via PFO tech AB: GPS Alarm Bracelet Wins Big at Golden Egg Awards – MarketWatch.
for previous posts see: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/tag/natalia-project/
Posted in Civil Rights Defenders (NGO), human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 3 Comments »
Tags: alarm, Civil Rights Defenders, digital security, Golden Egg Awards, GPS, Guldägget, Human Rights Defenders, Natalia bracelet, Natalia project, protection, security, social media, Stockholm
April 9, 2014
Posted in AI, HRW, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: AI, Amnesty International, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, digital security, Edward Snowden, electronic surveillance, government surveillance, HRW, Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights Watch, intelligence agency, Snowden, spy, UK, USA, whistleblower
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 