Meta has announced a free online course for journalists and human rights defenders on digital security and safety. It is created by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in conjunction with the Border Center for Journalists and Bloggers (BCJB).
In the announcement, Meta explained that the goal of this initiative is to continue supporting journalists and human rights defenders. It said the 90-minute course will provide participants with a “better understanding and practical tips on how to protect their information, data, devices and communications”.
This will include specific training on:
- Laying a strong digital security foundation
- Secure social media usage
- How to report from difficult situations in a secure fashion
- Countering online harassment
As part of the program, they will participate in a series of webinars (by ICFJ and BCJB) on digital security to further enhance their learning. This will provide additional context and supporting information.
The Meta Journalism Project is a great initiative, now that the Russian Government are placing restrictions on the use of social media platforms and news outlets, which it claims are giving false reports about its invasion of Ukraine.
As we speak, people in Russia can’t use Facebook or Twitter because of a recent law change that “appears to make it illegal for independent journalists to work in Russia.” The BBC is just one of many major news organisations that has shut down its operations in Russia due to this law change.
Journalists need to be safe in the face of efforts to control what they can and can’t report. This course will help you become more digitally literate, so you can get the most out of online sources without putting yourself or your sources at risk.
And so, in my opinion, it’s a welcome idea that will help more journalists figure out what they can and can’t do.
If you want to know more on on Digital security online course, and how to register, kindly visit the ICFJ website.
