Similarly, the growth of internet access in the region is beginning to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) / Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) to engage with the public, share information, and advocate for citizens’ rights in sometimes challenging and closed political environments. Although the internet offers opportunities to advocates, it also offers the possibility for unethical actors (national and international) to interfere with their work, surveil them, hack them and censor their voices.

In collaboration with a number of HR activists, Digital Security experts and visionaries, the TDC was formed in mid 2019 to comprehensively counter the gradually negatively increasing threats for state of digital safety and internet freedom in the Tanzania, and stressing on how to gauge/enhance the HRDs and general public ability to protect itself from digital threats and shrinking Civic Space.

TDC has consequently developed and divided into four core modes of operation: ‘Assess – Train – Innovate – Support’ to challenge and address the situation in Tanzania: Taken together, these operations modes offer a clear mitigation and resilience of the digital safety and the state of internet freedom in our surrounding community. 

TARGETED GROUPS

By its nature, TDC programmes and services are wider in scope to benefit the likes of Human Rights Defenders [the civil society organizations, Human Rights Monitors, Journalists and Bloggers, Media houses, activists, whistle blowers, Legal Aid Providers], victims of digital rights violation/ cyber-attacks and general public. 

Through direct program interventions such as Assessments, trainings, software innovations and support, TDC has good link with development partners (Donors), human rights defenders and local communities at the grassroots level which ensures that its operations have a big impact at the international, continental, regional, national and community levels.