Internews shares best practices with TechWomen on digital security

Guest post by Internews

Internews hosted a workshop for TechWomen about digital security. Internews empowers local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect and the means to make their voices heard.

Internews loved the chance to enhance digital security learnings with several TechWomen mentees and mentors in Washington, DC, on November 2. We were impressed with the level of engagement on the critical issue of security from such a dynamic group of Emerging Leaders.

Internews has trained more than 8,000 people to access anti-censorship tools and best “digital hygiene” practices, while also building a global network of the best 100 digital security trainers. With more than 15 years and in more than 30 countries, Internews has directly supported significant policy breakthroughs, such as the inclusion of “online rights and freedom” in South Sudan’s constitution and the development of the Magna Carta for Internet Freedom in the Philippines. We contribute to promising incremental successes, such as extensive public involvement in telecommunications legislation in Myanmar, the development of a bill promoting positive digital rights in Nigeria, ongoing support for copyright reforms in Colombia and the establishment of surveillance research and related advocacy in Mexico.

We’d love to work alongside TechWomen in promoting free, open and secure access to information around the world. Here are some freely available digital security curricula and tools:

• LevelUp: Resources for the global digital safety training community. Explore advice from fellow digital safety trainers and experienced facilitators, customize curriculum keyed to how adults learn, learn more from experts on the psychology of security trainings and self-care (including how stress and trauma affect the ability to learn as well as train effectively), get ideas from icebreakers and activities to start your workshops and make them fun, check out guides on developing trainings and crafting agendas, and more. All made for trainers and by their fellow trainers.

• SAFETAG: The Security Auditing Framework and Evaluation Template for Advocacy Groups. SAFETAG is a professional audit framework and self-assessment checklist that adapts traditional penetration testing and risk assessment methodologies to be relevant to small, nonprofit, human rights organizations based or operating in developing countries.

• SaferJourno is a free and open-source curriculum guide for media trainers who teach students, professionals and peers about digital safety and online security. SaferJourno provides lesson plans for six different modules: assessing risks, basic protection, mobile phone safety, keeping data safe, researching securely and protecting email. The toolkit starts with the trainer’s guide, which walks journalism and media trainers through easy-to-use adult teaching and learning approaches.

Please stay in touch! We’d love to connect with you and empower more women and people everywhere to secure their presence online and on their mobile phones as they do their critical work. Contact Nikki Bourassa at nbourassa@internews.org for more information and to connect with our field offices and digital security trainers.