IRADA organize workshop

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA) organized three day-long workshops on online safety and digital hygiene for journalists and information practitioners of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This series of workshops were conducted by Iqbal Khattak, a veteran journalist and expert on journalists’ safety. During the workshops, the participant from various media houses and human rights organizations from across the province and FATA were informed about the potential security hazards and risks concerning their digital tools, equipment and social media platforms.

The trainer shared techniques to ensure safety of digital equipment including computers, tabs and cell phones as well as safe online presence. He highlighted the importance of secure emails, Facebook accounts and twitter handles and how unhygienic online activities can pose risks to the users.

The participants were also briefed about constitutional and legal framework relating to social media and online privacy and freedom of information. Extents and limitations of the constitutional rights such as freedom of expression under Article 19 and right to information under Article 19-A for online information practitioners were discussed.

The participants were also informed about the platforms under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 to lodge complaints against online harassment and other electronic crimes against the citizens, particularly women and children.

Muhammad Aftab Alam, executive director of IRADA, shared his views about the significance and importance of social media and its role in informing and educating communities about the social issues. He also spoke about effective use of social media platforms for promoting citizen’s rights and democratic values.