We are excited to announce that Tomiwa Ilori has joined HURIDOCS as part of the Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP), an initiative by the Open Technology Fund (OTF). The ICFP cultivates research, outputs, and creative collaboration on topics related to repressive internet censorship and surveillance. As a Senior ICFP fellow hosted by HURIDOCS, Tomiwa’s work focuses on the understanding and enhancement of digital security tools for human rights defenders (HRDs) in Sub-Saharan African contexts, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. Tomiwa investigates how HRDs use digital security tools, their safety needs, and how developers can adapt these tools to better serve HRDs in highly repressive and surveilled contexts.
To address the urgent need for digital security solutions tailored to HRDs, this project incorporates surveillance studies, key informant interviews, and partnerships with local organisations. This research will provide insights to help developers improve digital security tools, ensuring they reflect the real-world needs of HRDs.Tomiwa is a researcher with a focus on human rights and technologies. Before his ICFP fellowship, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, where he worked with several organisations around the world on digital rights projects, research, and policy analysis.
OTF Fellowship project brief
DownloadRésumé du projet de bourse OTF
DownloadDigital security recommendations for human rights defenders
In response to growing digital threats to human rights defenders worldwide, Tomiwa, alongside HURIDOCS Digital Security Lead, has developed a basic guide to help protect the integrity of defenders’ data and tools. This resource provides essential tips on securing your phone, computer, and physical space, offering practical steps to enhance your digital security in specific contexts. The guidelines are available in English, French and Spanish.