Creating an emergency plan for threatened bloggers

In 2011 we have witnessed the incredible ability of bloggers and social media users to attract worldwide attention because of their activism. At the same time, governments seem to accelerate the pace of its "game of cat and mouse" with the network users, taking repressive measures as the use of surveillance, censorship, and persecution and detention of bloggers. It has come to light [in], for example, that the Syrian government, increasingly sophisticated in terms of technology, has demanded the detainees access codes, while in some prisons in the region still maintains the use of torture.

Aware of the threats to their security, bloggers often design action plans in case they were arrested. Several weeks ago, the Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was addressing a conference in Jordan when he was arrested [en] (already released). In a deliberate effort to protect their contacts, shared their passwords with trusted friends abroad, instructing them to change in case of arrest. Thus, she could not provide access to their accounts, not knowing the new keys. Other bloggers tell their closest contacts of the measures taken, specifying in advance if you would like a campaign for his release. A number of bloggers arrested this year in Egypt, Syria and other countries are connected to networks of international activism have experience in creating global campaigns and can easily contact with government officials, business and human rights organizations.

Identify individual risks are not easy or simple. Therefore, all the bloggers, both accredited and which are beginning-should consider creating a plan for when they are arrested. In this regard, there are numerous resources that bloggers can use to stay informed about when you are halted, harass or monitor other bloggers in your country, when his government is intercepting telephone conversations or Internet activity, and when forced detainees to communicate information to the authorities as their own passwords.

Given these considerations, and Global Voices Advocacy EFF has created a list of issues to consider. This list is by no means exhaustive, but provides a starting point from which bloggers can develop their own emergency plans.

If you are a blogger you should:

• Consider disclose it to anyone outside the country the following information:
  • Passwords to your social media, email and blog accounts
  • Contact information for family members
  • Information about your health conditions
• Make backups of blogs, Facebook, email and other accounts regularly
• Consider making a mirror of your site if you want to make sure running without your attention (Global Voices Advocacy provides instructions on making a mirror of a WordPress blog [en])
• Encrypt files with sensitive information and consider keeping them in an external device.
• Consider the possibility of using tools like Identity Sweeper (Android devices) to preserve / delete the information in your mobile phone.
• Consider drafting a petition for freedom in the case of detention, this can be helpful for the international media and human rights organizations.
• Consider a brief video recording in which you show yourself (biographical information, objectives of your work) and expose the risks you face and share it with your trusted contacts.
• Develop contacts with organizations favorde human rights and defense of freedom of expression *.
• Consider a strategy / contingency plan for what to do in case you are stopped (see below).

If you are arrested or detained:

• Is there a person (s) you want to authorize to make important decisions on your behalf, and to develop a public campaign or not? If so, please be sure to set your preferences with that person. Here are some of the issues can be discussed:

• • What are your preferences for public campaigns? Is there a particular message that you think best represents you and your ideals?
  • What are the closest organizations that estimates as to the possibility of asking for your release direct campaigns or give you a better deal?
  • Is there a lawyer (s) in particular you'd like to defend your case?
  • Do you have any preference on what to do with your account (eg, changing passwords, making them accountable to support the campaign or close)? Do you trust someone who can make important decisions for your accounts if your situation changes?
  • Is there any specific information about yourself or relevant to your case, you'd rather not make public?
  • Do you suffer temporary illness or chronic type that requires medication or treatment? If so, what (asthma, diabetes, heart problems, etc ...)?
  • Do you have family you can contact to make important decisions or to speak with the media? If yes, who? Do you have relatives you do not want to speak on your behalf under any circumstances?

In discussing these issues, please note that work can cost you anticipate each step. Perhaps the best course of action is discussed in depth with trusted friends and family so they can clearly understand your preferences, and then authorized to make decisions that they deem most appropriate as circumstances develop. Put another way: "delegate with instructions", so that your people you trust to act in defense of your interests and your desires according to the circumstances as they develop.

* There are plenty of organizations and we can not name them all. EFF and Global Voices Advocacy is a good start, but we also recommend international organizations Human Rights Watch , Amnesty International , Frontline Defenders , Reporters Without Borders , Committee to Protect Journalists [en] and Access [en]. If you need help finding a local chapter of an organization in your country, please contact us and we will help you.

This post was co-written by EFF and Global Voices Advocacy, with special thanks to Zeynep Tufekci .