Three weeks after the Electronic Frontier Foundation released a report regarding the possibility that the Syrian government was able to track and attack the late journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik by tracking their satellite phones, Small World News has released a guide for safe use of satellite phones for journalists and activists working in high-risk environments.
Why Develop a Safe Satellite Phone Guide
In the Guide to Safely Using SatPhones, Small World News articulates their goal:
This guide provides a comprehensive look at potential uses for sat-phones in repressive regimes. It contains the best practices on keeping safe while communicating effectively with the least chance for detection and observation.
In an era where the free access of information is sometimes seen as the death knell for authoritarian regimes, some governments have begun to view the open exchange of information as a direct threat to their survival.
When Mass Communication is Shut Down
Often, these entities will shut down entire networks for mass communication, including internet and cell phone use. Satellite phones are considered a viable option for people looking to communicate outside their borders, but they also come with a high risk of detection.
Guide to Safe Use of SatPhones
The 4-page, creative commons-licensed guide provides valuable insights for the sat phone user hoping to avoid government detection, such as how to disguise use in high-risk zones, keeping calls short and deleting call logs in case the phone itself is intercepted.