Global Encryption Coalition Launched to Defend Encryption Worldwide

By Owen PatelCryptography Tutorial

Global Encryption Coalition Launched

More than 30 civil society organizations have joined together to launch the Global Encryption Coalition, aiming to promote and protect encryption in countries where it is under threat. The new coalition is led by a Steering Committee made up of the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), the Internet Society, and Global Partners Digital.

“The spread of COVID-19 has highlighted the need for secure, private online communications. Those fortunate enough to have strong internet connections are likely sharing more and more confidential data online. At the same time, governments around the world are considering policies that put the security of this data at risk,” said Greg Nojeim, Senior Counsel at CDT and Director of the Freedom, Security and Technology Project. “Encryption allows people to have a private and secure digital life.”

Working together with a community that is expected to grow rapidly and include companies and technologists, CDT and the coalition will help activists in key countries where encryption is threatened-such as Canada, Australia, India, and Brazil-stand up to proposals that would weaken encryption.

“The coalition will alert technologists to encryption threats worldwide and create mechanisms for them to provide expert analysis to mitigate these threats,” said Mallory Knodel, Chief Technology Officer at CDT.

“CDT is very pleased to offer expert analysis, global collaboration, and a platform to support local efforts to defend encryption,” added Nojeim.

“The Internet Society is excited to join forces with the Center for Democracy and Technology and Global Partners Digital to form the Global Encryption Coalition,” said Jeff Wilbur, Senior Director of Online Trust at the Internet Society. “With the global health pandemic leading to more of our daily activities and communications taking place online, encryption is more important than ever for keeping people and countries safe. We look forward to working together with the global coalition movement, focused on advancing and protecting the use of strong encryption policies and practices worldwide.”

Steering Committee Members

  • Center for Democracy and Technology
  • Internet Society
  • Global Partners Digital

Coalition Members

(Full list available here)

  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • ARTICLE 19
  • Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
  • Canadian Civil Liberties Association
  • CETYS
  • Citizen Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
  • Coaliz�o Direitos na Rede
  • Coding Rights
  • Committee to Protect Journalists
  • DataPrivacy.br
  • Derechos Digitales
  • Digital Empowerment Foundation
  • Digital Rights Watch
  • Electronic Frontier Foundation
  • Fundaci�n Karisma
  • Hiperderecho
  • The Institute for Technology & Society of Rio
  • Instituto Nupef
  • InternetNZ
  • Intervozes – Coletivo Brasil de Comunica��o Social
  • IP.rec – Instituto de Pesquisa em Direito e Tecnologia do Recife
  • IRIS – Instituto de Refer�ncia em Internet e Sociedade
  • LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute
  • New America’s Open Technology Institute
  • Open Media
  • Open Rights Group
  • Paradigm Initiative
  • Prostasia Foundation
  • Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales
  • Small Media
  • SFLC.in
  • Software Freedom Law Center
  • Stiftung Neue Verantwortung
  • WITNESS

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