'Digital security knowledge vital for journos'

Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDs-Coalition) has called on media outlets in the country to equip journalists with basic knowledge on digital security ahead of the local government elections slated for mid next month.

The call was made by the National Coordinator for the Coalition, Onesmo Olengurumwa at a two-day digital security training for journalists from different media houses.

He said as the country is heading towards the elections, cybercrimes are likely to rise, something that could interfere with journalists’ work of
informing and educating the public.

Citing examples of the mushrooming social media, he said digital security training is vital if freedom of speech is to be maintained during elections.
“The knowledge will be of much assistance to journalists as it will help them protect themselves,” he said.

“Digital security training in Tanzania must be given priority due to the increase of cybercrimes. This training couldn’t have come at a better time as the country is in the process of writing a new constitution as well as the coming general elections,” he said.

He said the training will equip journalists with knowledge on how to use various social media while being watchful on security and privacy.

Olengurumwa noted that digital security training must include both online and offline security, “offline, we need to learn how to secure and protect our information in case of theft or loss of our hardware so that no one can access our personal information. Online we need to protect our digital devices from viruses and create strong passwords to avoid hacking of accounts.”

Citing an example, he said according to various international reports on average, more than 70 journalists are murdered every year, and the murderers go unpunished.

“Every year hundreds of journalists are attacked, threatened or harassed. Many are stalked or have their phone calls and internet communications hacked,” he said.

“As human rights advocates, journalists, bloggers and media personnel often face harassment, detention, torture, defamation, suspension from their employment and other difficulties. In some countries they are killed or just disappear,” he added.

Commenting on the training, one of the Coalition’s facilitators, Boka Melkisedeck said the aim of equipping journalists with such knowledge is to empower them on digital security issues and raise awareness on managing digital security risks.

“We want them to be able to analyse basic security practices related to technology, digital media and information technology,” he said.

For their part,  digital security experts, Mark Kiggundu from the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) Kampala, Uganda and  John Kaoneka from Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) said journalists as human rights defenders have the right to be trained on digital security issues so that they can effectively and efficiently execute their duties.

“We are training 14 Human Rights Defenders including journalists, media workers and bloggers who are mostly at risk. After the training, we expect the knowledge acquired will be shared with their colleagues in their respective media houses,” they said.

The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition and East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project jointly planned to train 14 vocal journalists, media personnel and bloggers.