Friday, September 23, 2005

Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents

The group Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres) has just published, electronically, of course, a handbook for bloggers (the link is for th English edition, but versions are available in French, Spanish, Persian, Chinese, and Arabic). It includes a nice brief history and justification for blogging, and some explanation for how to get started in blogging without too much technical know-how. But most striking is its clear orientation for blogging as a way for dissidents and whistleblowers to say things that vested interests might not appreciate. It features a guide to blogging anonymously that documents increasingly secure (and technically complex) methods to preserve anonymity for those who may face retaliation for what they say.
In health care there have been all too frequent examples of secrecy, censorship, and retaliation against whistleblowers of various types. I know there are quite a few people out there who have important information about abusive practices, yet are justifiably afraid to speak up. Such people may want to look at the Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents.

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