Privacy

When using the Internet to do human rights work, you should keep in mind that all online un-encrypted communications can be easily intercepted. This includes mischievous teenagers with time and know-how and members of the intelligence services of any country of your choice. If you want to communicate privately you must use encryption. The most common type of encryption software available is Pretty Good Privacy or PGP - a program freely available online from http://www.pgpi.com/ While it is illegal in the United States and other countries to export strong encryption technology (i.e. give a copy of PGP to a foreign colleague and you are risking several years in jail), it is usually legal to use it (at least outside of France and Russia) - and we very much urge you to do so. You can find more information about PGP and why you should use it in the July '98 issue of Without Impunity (http://www.derechos.org/wi/2/online.html).

This manual was written by Margarita Lacabe, Executive Director of Derechos Human Rights. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please write to marga@derechos.org. You can access this manual online at http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/manual.htm

The copyright of this manual resides with Margarita Lacabe. You are authorized to make copies for personal, academic or other non-profit use as long as you credit Derechos Human Rights as the source.