This year the United Nations has called on “everyone to stand up for someone’s rights.” While a laudable directive, this call to arms should include discussion of the implications. If we are to call on individuals to stand up for Human Rights, we must acknowledge the serious consequences that often accompany these acts of courage and empower those who are brave enough to take such risks.
Technology can help maximise individual efforts. Yet by the same token important security considerations that go hand-in-hand with the use of such tools must remain central to all our discussions. Particularly in the post-Snowden era, protecting documenters means considering both offline and online security. A call to arms without recognition of this vital point is at best misguided and at worst risks causing more harm than good.
