Encryption crucial tool for press freedom, expression security- Experts

By Mosunmola Ayobami,Ilorin

Digital experts have identified encryption as a crucial tool for press freedom and expression security in a society.

Speaking separately at a workshop for journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Ilorin, the Co-Founder and Director of Partnership and Sustainability of Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative, Wale Bakare, and the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, Gbenga Sesan, agreed that strong encryption policy protects journalists in a liberal democracy.

In his presentation, Bakare described encryption among others as a designed tool to help Internet users keep their online data and communications private and secure.

He said “encryption plays a critical role in protecting day-to-day digital activities like online banking, shopping, preventing theft of sensitive information in data breaches, and making sure private messages stay private. It is essential for protecting freedom of expression and privacy.”

“Encryption is an essential tool for CSOs, Digital Right Defenders and journalists. If they cannot communicate in confidence with colleagues and sources, they cannot do their jobs in safety. Likewise, if they cannot protect the anonymity of their sources, those sources may not come forward, and the public will pay the price,” he pointed.

Bakare opined that ” Journalists’ sources sometimes share incriminating information about an institution or personal information about themselves only if journalists agree to protect their identity. End- to-end encryption allows journalists to build a trusted relationship with these sources.

“Journalists need to reliably signal to readers that they have created trustworthy content and ensure it matches what their intended audience can see online.

“Internet protocols like HTTPS protects journalism from censorship: it’s harder for censors to block messages or access to news if they cannot intercept the content.

“There are many cases of journalists and news outlets having their devices and online platforms hacked and surveilled by government and private actors over their reporting.

“Journalists also face threats such as online abuse, doxxing (gathering and publishing personal information online), and stalking. End-to-end encryption helps protect their communications from surveillance and interception by third parties”.

On Corporate Social Responsibility, he said encryption encourage journalists to hold governments and institutions accountable, saying: “An important component of journalism is its ability to hold people and institutions in power accountable for their decisions and actions. To do this, it is critical for journalists to have digital security tools that prevents powerful entities from accessing and/or altering their research, conversations, and sources”.

“Strong encryption policy protects journalists everywhere: When countries support end- to-end encryption, they help journalists in their own nations and around the world by setting a standard for global encryption protections,” he said.

According to him, giving law enforcement and intelligence agencies the power to either intercept and access encrypted communications or compel companies to do it for them not only weakens security on the Internet; it also puts journalists at risk both online and in real life.

” Exceptional access puts private information and conversations at risk because it allows government access to your private information, and simultaneously creates a doorway for bad actors”, said Bakare.

He however urged governments to encourage the practice of encryption, adding that lack of it could only deter journalists from publishing risky content.

“If journalists do not have a secure way of performing their work, they may opt to not pursue sensitive stories due to potential backlash, scrutiny, and harassment they may receive.

“A healthy democratic nation needs a strong and independent free press to inform the public about the actions of governments, institutions, and companies it chooses to trust.

“Protect freedom of the press by advocating for strong end-to-end encryption and ensuring journalists and the public are free to use it. Journalists need to be safe online in order to hold governments and institutions accountable, tell important and impactful stories, protect their sources, and promote healthy democracies,” he sought.

Meanwhile, Sesan who corroborated Bakare, described encryption as a mean of sending messages without raising suspicion.