In response to the increase in the surveillance of journalists online, ARISA, MISA, Digital Society of Africa and DFB Labs collaborate to publish a survival tool kit for journalists to protect their privacy on the internet.
This statement was originally published on misa.org on 15 May 2022.
This toolkit provides explainers of key surveillance software and terminologies. Quite importantly, it also provides resource links to open-source software and digital security software, which journalists can explore and use to protect their privacy online.
The Survival Toolkit for Journalists: How to protect yourself against Digital Surveillance guide was developed in response to the growing threat of digital surveillance and cyber security legislation, used by governments and others to track and monitor journalists in their efforts to harass and muzzle journalists from carrying out their work.
The guide provides journalists and media houses with a deeper understanding of the legal frameworks on cyber security laws in the SADC region, and offers critical knowledge and tools that can be implemented by journalists and media houses to protect their online spaces, digital footprint and data.
ARISA would like to thank and acknowledge Golden Maunganidze of the Regional Media Institute (MISA) of Southern Africa, Jean le Roux of DFR Lab and Tawanda Mugari of Digital Society of Africa, for developing the informative and rich content contained in the Toolkit; we know that it will be an important resource for journalists across the region.
Specific acknowledgment is also given to Dr. Allen Munoriyarwa, from the University of Johannesburg, who worked closely with the ARISA team to develop the program and content for the Digital Surveillance training program and who provided additional insights and expert knowledge into the Toolkit. ARISA would also like to thank Golden Maunganidze of the Regional Media Institute (MISA) of Southern Africa for writing the Foreword for the Toolkit.
