Media in the Age of Cyber Surveillance

In partnership with Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW), CIMA releases Watching the Watchdogs: Media in the Age of Cyber Surveillance. The report explores the impact of cyber surveillance on independent media around the globe.

The report will be formally released at a panel discussion on April 13th. Organized by RNW, the panel is being held in the lead-up to the Global Conference on Cyber Space 2015 at the Hague.

To learn more about the impact of cyber surveillance on journalists please check out our Watchdogs Under Watch blog series and follow the #GCCS2015 conversation on Twitter to learn more about the conference.

WATCHDOGS UNDER WATCH: MEDIA IN THE AGE OF CYBER SURVEILLANCE

A CIMA Report by Don Podesta, manager and editor, CIMA

Watchdogs Under Watch: A Blog Series

Watchdogs Under Watch is a series of personal stories from journalists, bloggers, and activists around the world, as they encounter and combat surveillance and cyber security issues. This series and corresponding report, written for the Center for International Media Assistance, is in partnership with Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

“DURING THE RIOTS, THE AUTHORITIES SHUT DOWN THE INTERNET”

In general, the average person doesn’t always seem too concerned about cyber security. Most people think this is an issue only for large organisations or celebrities. But I think this is a subject which everyone should take seriously.
More and more, our Internet accounts and user identities are becoming just as much a part of us as our name, address, nationality, age and gender.

AFRICA AND CYBER SECURITY: FOLLOWING DEMOCRATIC GLOBAL FOOTSTEPS, AVOIDING REPRESSION

Africa is playing “catch-up” with the rest of world where it concerns regulation of the Internet and implementation of cyber security frameworks. This “catch-up” game however should however remain cognizant of the organic value of the rights to freedom of expression and the right to privacy of the continent’s citizens.

GCCS 2015: A JOURNALIST’S PERSPECTIVE

For a U.S.-based former journalist who hasn’t worked in the Global South in many years, mingling at the Global Conference on Cyber Space in The Hague this week was a stark reminder of how fortunate American journalists are. The stories I heard from journalists from Angola to Zimbabwe (speaking both figuratively and literally) were in turn heart-breaking and teeth-grinding. It’s a wonder any of them even want to be journalists at all.

HOW TO DEAL WITH CYBER SECURITY?

Many courses or clinics that prepare people for stressful situations (first aid courses, evacuation drills) use the slogan “Stop! Think! Act! ” It’s a highly appropriate slogan for cyber security too.

DOWNLOAD YOUR CYBERWEAPON

Digital security has become one of the most controversial issues in political, cultural and social circles. With the widespread techniques available today to some states to spy and monitor the internet, it seems the discussion has been taken from a science fiction novel or from the pages of George Orwell’s “1984”. I always found it strange that digital security “affects us all” but for me stayed confined to the internet in a virtual, faraway world.

MY JOURNEY FROM SURVEILLANCE CULTURE TO CIRCUMVENTION CULTURE

Jordanian blogger Tarakiyee writes about the issues facing online journalists in the brave new world of cyber surveillance.

Crawling to Death of Expression – Restricted Online Media in Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s 2005 election was the most contested ever and the government alleged journalists and editors were part of a conspiracy to overthrow the government. This left the free press, which was slowly expanding for the first time since the ruling party took power in 1991, under attack. The government started taking repressive measures against freedom of expression and association.

The Hard Truth About Cyber Security

Doing the research for CIMA’s latest report, Watchdogs Under Watch: Media in the Age of Cyber Surveillance, proved to be an enlightening experience–and a sobering one.

All Security, All the Time

Check our series of blog posts on the pervasiveness of the cyber surveillance discussion, and its impact on independent media.

All Cybersecurtiy, All the Time, Part III

Washington continues to be engrossed in the subject of cyber everything, and today’s news developments and events in that arena offer a study in contrasts.

All Cybersecurtiy, All the Time, Part II

As noted in an earlier blog post, cyber surveillance, cyber security, cyber threats, cyber everything has become the flavor of the month in the Washington think tank circuit lately. This week’s entry into the field was provided by the Brookings Institution at a book launch and discussion Wednesday.

All Cybersecurtiy, All the Time, Part I

Suddenly cyber everything is all the rage in Washington. This month there have been several panel discussions and book launches around town having to do with government cyber surveillance, cybersecurity, and their effect on freedom of expression and journalism.