A selection of old Tactical Tech resources

Timeline: A travel through Our Collaborative and Creative Journey

When Tactical Tech was founded two decades ago, there was a lot of optimism surrounding digital technologies but not much focus on their potential for civil society and the risks that could arise. Many people talked about technology as an equalising and empowering force, but there was little action to make it a reality. Tactical Tech wanted to change that. Started in a former hairdresser salon in Amsterdam in 2003, the organisation grew steadily, setting up informal offices worldwide, from Amman to Brighton to Bangalore. In 2012, the expanded international team found a permanent home in Berlin. From toolkits in-a-box to large-scale interventions that engaged millions of people worldwide in conversations around the impact of digital technologies, the journey has had one constant: our collaborative approach.
Since its creation, Tactical Tech has co-developed hundreds of interventions and resources in collaboration with local partners and collaborators worldwide. These resources have directly reached millions of people: activists, human rights advocates, researchers, journalists, educators, librarians, young people...and the list continues. Looking back, it's incredible to see the places we've been, the people we've worked with, and the projects we've undertaken. Join us on this remarkable journey through two decades of collaboration, innovation and co-creation.

2003-2024

2021-2024

Amid escalating crises and the spread of misinformation, digital technologies play an increasing role in the way people get informed, form opinions and find solutions to situations like war, climate crises, and political polarisation. Many are still unaware of the relationship between digital technologies and people's responses to crises. This realisation drove our mission to engage people in exploring this crucial topic.

Our impact: We expanded our work to engage with an evolving set of challenges related to technology and crises to promote reflection on the societal and democratic impact of technology and crisis response. We collaborate with over 150 trusted partners to inform and engage their communities in conversations around the relationship between technology, democracy and crises by providing them with the necessary tools and information to take action and make informed decisions.

Impact Focus: Systemic Impact.

Work areas: Media and digital literacy, Misinformation & Disinformation, Technology & crises, Data & Political influence, Advancing knowledge on Investigative Methods & Tools.

  • Technology & crisesCollaboration

    2024: Information Literacy for Societal Resilience: A new creative intervention about the effects of AI

    A collaboration between Tactical Tech, DensityDesign Lab at Politecnico di Milano and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) was announced. The organisation will work together to create an intervention that addresses how AI is impacting the ways that media and information are produced, distributed and perceived.

    Learn more
    Green Banner Information Literacy for Societal Resilience
  • Youth, Data & TechExperiences & Interventions

    2024: Everywhere, All the Time: A digital literacy intervention for teens that fosters critical conversions about technology and AI

    ”Everywhere, All the Time” is a creative and playful digital literacy intervention designed for teens. Educators can use it to promote critical conversations about technology, AI, and their impacts.

    Learn more
    Everywhere, All the Time exhibition. Image by Avenues
  • Data & Political influenceGuides, guidebooks & PDFsToolkitWebsite

    2024: Inform: A voter literacy resource center for navigating digital election campaigns

    Inform was designed to empower voters, educators, facilitators, and organisations involved in voter education to explore the ways digital and data-driven technologies play a key role in political campaigns and elections.

    Leran more
    Banner Inform
  • Milestone

    2023: We were selected as one of the beneficiaries of the 2023 Proton Lifetime Charity Fundraiser

    Tactical Tech received a donation of $70,000 through the Lifetime Charity Fundraiser organised by the secure and encrypted email service Proton Mail. The donation directly supported Tactical Tech in its efforts to help communities navigate and respond to the challenges exacerbated by digital technologies.

    Learn more
    Image Proton Lifetime Charity Fundraiser
  • Milestone

    2023: We were chosen as one of the recipients of 2023 DuckDuckGo's annual Charitable Donations Program

    DuckDuckGo, the internet privacy company committed to empowering individuals to take control of their personal information online, selected Tactical Tech as one of the organizations that benefited from their Charitable Donations Program 2023.

    Learn more
    DuckDuckGo's annual Charitable Donations Program announcement
  • Data DetoxGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2023: The Data Detox Kit launched new section on the environmental impact of technology

    The new Data Detox Kit section focused on technology’s impact, including the guides "Repairing Is Caring" and "How many trees does it take to power the internet?" provide people with practical steps to reduce their environmental digital footprint.

    Discover more
    Screenshot of The Data Detox Kit launched new section on the
environmental impact of technology
  • Youth, Data & TechArticles & Research

    2023: An Assessment of the Needs of Educators and Youth in Europe for a Digital and Media Literacy Education Intervention

    This research, developed as part of the Media Literacy Case for Educators project, aims to identify how educators can create effective digital and media literacy resources for youth. It includes the experience of educators, the perspectives of teenagers, and the insights of experts.

    Learn more
    Desk with colourful documents and pens
  • Milestone

    2023: Our Executive Director was recognised by Mozilla as one of the 25 leaders shaping the future of the internet

    Our Executive Director and co-founder, Marek Tuszynski, was recognised by Mozilla's Rise 25 Awards as one of the artists and visionary leaders actively shaping a more ethical, responsible, and inclusive future for the internet.

    Read more
    Picture of the Rise25 winners 2023. Image by Mozilla
  • Collaboration

    2023: The Media Literacy Case for Educators was launched

    The project run by European Schoolnet, International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), Save the Children (Italy), and Tactical Tech was created to provide educators with creative digital literacy tools, resources, methods and materials for youth.

    Learn more
    Banner  Media Literacy Case for Educators
  • Investigative Methods & ToolsCollaboration

    2023: The Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI) starts a second year

    The second edition of CIJI, led by Tactical Tech in partnership with Unlimited (FPU), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Fundacja Reporterów (FR), OBC Transeuropa (OBCT), and Delfi aims to support journalists with knowledge, financial resources, networking, and training for high-quality, ethical, and accountable collaborative investigative journalism.

    Visit the page of the project
    CIJI partners meeting in September 2023. PIcture by Wael Eskandar
  • Data & Political influenceToolkit

    2023: The Influence Industry Explorer grew

    The Influence Industry Explorer, an open-source tool that provides information on more than 500 companies using digital technologies to influence citizens during elections, now includes data on over 70 political parties benefiting and over 50 services provided.

    Discover the Explorer
  • Investigative Methods & ToolsAudio

    2023: The Second Season of the Exposing the Invisible Podcast was launched

    Experienced investigators from around the world discuss their personal experiences with uncovering wrongdoing and exposing the invisible in this new podcast series. Listening to their inspiring stories, journalists and investigators learn from their methods and what motivates them to keep going.

    Learn more
    Screenshot The Second Season of the Exposing the Invisible Podcast
  • Milestone

    2023: Anniversary: Tactical Tech turned 20

    In 2003, Tactical Tech was formed with the goal of enabling communities around the world to face the challenges and changes brought by new digital technologies. In 2023, we celebrated two decades of innovation and co-creation with our partners, collaborators and funders.

    Learn more
    20 year anniversary celebration card
  • Data & Political influenceExhibition object

    2023: The Opinionator exhibition piece at Futurium

    This piece is part of the "Democracy in Progress" exhibition at Futurium, a renowned cultural hub for innovation and dialogue on global issues. This interactive experience that educates visitors on three common tools used to influence people digitally, will attract over a million visitors in three years.

    Learn more
    The Opinionator exhibition piece at Futurium. Image by David von Becker
  • Data & Political influenceWebsite

    2022: The Influence Industry website goes live

    On this website, organisations and individuals can learn about, explore research and discover resources on the industry using our personal data to influence citizens in political campaigns.

    Explore more
    Picture of the Influence Industry website
  • Media and digital literacyYouth, Data & TechExperiences & Interventions

    2022: What The Future Wants exhibition: co-developed with youth and for youth

    The interactive exhibition provides educators with creative and interactive media literacy resources and assets.  Teachers, librarians and organisations working with youth worldwide used, adapted and outreached these resources to host interventions that engaged around 12.000 young people in conversations about their digital environment and how they can re-imagine it.

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    Picture of a What The Future Wants exhibition prototype
  • Media and digital literacyTechnology & crisesExperiences & Interventions

    2022: Everything Will Be Fine: Raising awareness around technology's impact on human responses to crises

    Everything Will Be Fine is a large-scale public intervention that examines how people understand and respond to global crises like climate change, pandemics and political polarisation through the lens of technology. It allows users to navigate the works of over 60 artists, researchers and technologists. The outdoor and online versions of the exhibition had over 13,000 visitors.

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    Picture of the opening event of the Everything Will Be Fine
exhibition. By Andrea Rosseti
  • Media and digital literacyMisinformation & DisinformationExperiences & Interventions

    2022: Increasing the accessibility of The Glass Room resources

    Easy-print and outdoor formats of The Glass Room Misinformation Edition were created in 2022 to increase the accessibility of our resources and reach communities that otherwise couldn’t be reached.

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    GR outdoor format
  • Milestone

    2022: Awards

    The Glass Room: Misinformation Edition was nominated for the S+T+ARTS PRIZE in Europe and he "100 Responses to the Pandemic" project about the technologies created and used during the pandemic won an Ars Electronica Honorary Mention.

  • Media and digital literacyMisinformation & DisinformationCollaboration

    2021: The Digital You project at a glance

    We worked with the Goethe-Institut to support 20 partners in 11 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa in creating resources to train the next generation of researchers, journalists, activists, and conscious consumers on digital and media literacy, verification, digital safety, privacy, and online wellbeing.

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    Illustration Digital You project
  • Misinformation & DisinformationE-learning course

    2021: The Digital Enquirer Kit goes live

    In collaboration with GIZ, Tactical Tech developed the “Digital Enquirer Kit”, an e-learning course that has trained over 330 learners on preventing the spread of misinformation, covering topics like media literacy, verification, and navigating the internet safely.

    Explore more
    Picture of the  Digital Enquirer Kit  platform
  • Investigative Methods & ToolsExperiences & Interventions

    2021: [Conference] “Investigation is Collaboration“

    The Exposing the Invisible project hosted the 5-day online conference “Investigation is Collaboration“ to advance the capacity and skills of leading investigators, researchers and journalists. A new collection of resources, including articles, guides, videos and a podcast series, were produced as a result of the conference.

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    Ann Kieran's Illustration for the “Investigation is Collaboration“ conference
  • Data & Political influenceMedia and digital literacyGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2021: “A Voter‘s Guide ” for voters to detox their data

    It explains in accessible terms where political campaigns source personal data, what kinds of data they collect, and how they use it to target and persuade voters. The guide offers voters seven essential tips to detox their personal data.

    Explore more
    Visual from A Voter‘s Guide

2016-2019

Amidst increasing privacy concerns, we saw a growing need to develop new ways to engage wider audiences in conversations about technology's impact on their lives. Simultaneously, half a year prior to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, we exposed the rising trend of private companies offering services to political entities to utilise personal data to influence voters’ opinions. As the scandal unfolded, Tactical Tech provided knowledge and understanding of the dynamics behind the scenes to help audiences to understand the scandal's implications.

Our Impact: We created interactive experiences for people to explore, initiate conversations, and raise questions that gained global reach through partnerships, raising awareness and encouraging self-reflection on people’s digital lives. Through initiatives like The Glass Room, we debunked the misconception that individuals lack interest in these topics. People possessed valid questions but needed practical solutions to comprehend and tackle the vast dimensions of the problem. Thus, the Data Detox Kit was created, enabling individuals to make informed decisions about their use of technology. Simultaneously, our Data and Politics project advanced knowledge of the Influence Industry, while Exposing the Invisible expanded its resources and knowledge sharing on investigative practices for a growing community.

Impact Focus: Scaling.

Work areas: Media and digital literacy, Misinformation & Disinformation, Technology & crises, Data & Political influence, Advancing knowledge on Investigative Methods & Tools.

  • Investigative Methods & ToolsToolkit

    2019: Exposing the Invisible the Kit goes live

    The Kit, a collaborative, self-learning resource that makes investigative techniques and tools used accessible to people and communities who feel motivated to start their own investigations, was launched.  The Kit is a resource of Exposing the Invisible (ETI). Launch of the first 13 chapters.

    Explore more
    Picture of several copies of the printed version of the Exposing the
Invisible the Kit
  • Media and digital literacyExperiences & Interventions

    2019: The Glass Room goes to San Francisco

    Over 20,000 visitors attended the exhibition, including a daily event program and over 50 artworks that playfully and provocatively explore our relationship to technology.

    Explore more
    Picture of the exhibition The Glass Room in San Francisco
  • Data & Political influenceGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2019: Personal Data: Political Persuasion - The Guidebook and Visual Gallery

    A guidebook shedding light on the global business built around using data for political influence was launched so voters, policymakers, political partners and technology companies can develop informed opinions and decisions about the relationship between personal data and politics.

    Explore more
    Picture of the Personal Data: Political Persuasion - The Guidebook
  • Data & Political influenceArticles & Research

    2018: Exploring the dimensions of the Influence Industry

    We work with international partners to investigate the extent of the influence industry. We commissioned and published country studies, which revealed that using personal data in elections is a global phenomenon with an entire market built around it. We researched and identified over 300 organisations involved in the industry.

    Explore more
    Screenshot of the article Who’s Working for Your Vote?
  • Investigative Methods & ToolsGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2018: The Origins of Exposing the Invisible: The Kit

    We ran an 11-day residency with a group of practitioners in the field to turn the investigation into a more comprehensive form of civic engagement by providing the knowledge and skills to collect and verify evidence.  By the end of 2018, over a dozen chapters of Exposing the Invisible: The Kit had been written in collaboration with the community of investigators.

  • Milestone

    2018: Data and design ethics

    In 2018 we worked with technologists, designers and product developers – from entry-level students to board member-level decision makers – to find methodologies for designing and developing technologies differently and to stem problems at a pre-design stage rather than through regulatory enforcement.

  • Data DetoxMedia and digital literacyToolkit

    2018: The Data Detox Kit now has a printable version

    The kit included content beyond privacy to incorporate tips and advice on digital security and well-being. A low-cost, printable version was developed and translated the kit into nine languages with the help of local partners. In 2018, the Kit reached more than 150,000 people.

    Explore more
    Picture of the printed version of the Data Detox Kit
  • Media and digital literacyExperiences & Interventions

    2018: The Glass Room IoT Edition

    Alongside our partner Mozilla, we developed a portable, pop-up version of the exhibition focused on the Internet of Things, including posters, games and interactive exhibits that explore and critique the rise of smart devices. It was hosted in 94 locations across Europe, North America and worldwide throughout the year.

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  • Technology & crisesEssay

    2017: Efficiency and Madness

    Tactical Tech's co-founders were commissioned by the Heinrich Böll Foundation to write an essay about technofixes – using data and technology to solve social, environmental and political problems. Efficiency and Madness was published as a small booklet, and all copies have since been snapped up.

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    PIcture of several copies of the Efficiency and Madness printed copies
  • Gender and TechWiki

    2017: Gender and Tech Wiki

    The collectively written wiki platform provides women net activists and human rights defenders with community-driven resources. It’s been produced in collaboration with women from over 25 countries as a place to post skills, tell stories and share events.

    Explore more
    Screenshot of the Gender and Tech Wiki
  • Investigative Methods & ToolsExperiences & Interventions

    2017: Data Investigation Camp

    The camp, hosted with our partners at Share Lab, brought together leading international artists, technologists, citizen investigators, and developers to share knowledge and inspire innovative approaches. The five-day camp dealt with the tricky ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions of investigation, the methods used, and how to realise these methods with tangible outcomes.

  • Data DetoxPrivacy & RightsToolkit

    2017: The Origins of the Data Detox Kit

    A web app prototype of the Data Detox Kit was designed and built in 2017 and was launched in November, receiving over 100,000 visitors in the first three months. This eight-day self-learning guide teaches you how to reduce data traces.

  • Media and digital literacyPrivacy & RightsExperiences & Interventions

    2017: The Glass Room visited London

    Produced by Tactical Tech in partnership with Mozilla, The Glass Room turned issues around data and privacy into sensory and tangible experiences in London. In just 19 days, The Glass Room welcomed nearly 19,000 visitors.

    Explore more
    Picture of  The Glass Room in London. By David Mirzoeff 2017.
  • Media and digital literacyPrivacy & RightsExperiences & Interventions

    2017: The Glass Room travels to New York

    In partnership with Mozilla, we opened The Glass Room NYC,  an immersive pop-up tech store that explored data and privacy issues through art, interactive displays and workshops. The Glass Room hosted 43  workshops and 75 other events. Around 10,000 visitors attended the exhibition.

    Explore more
    Picture of the Glass Room in New York. By Nousha Salimi 2016
  • Media and digital literacyExperiences & Interventions

    2016: Nervous Systems: Quantified Life and the Social Question, our first large-scale intervention

    This exhibition, in collaboration with the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Berlin, was our first large-scale intervention. It featured over 30 works tracing the inversions that mark the relationship between man and machine. Shown in March-May 2016 at the HKW in Berlin, Germany. nearly 10,000 visitors.

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    Picture of the White Room at the Nervous Systems intervention

2013-2015

Amid global social and political tensions, activists and citizens sought new investigative skills to document, process, and visualise information for their causes and communities. This led to the creation of "Exposing the Invisible," which serves as a set of resources and a network for investigators and journalists as well as for activists and citizens to uncover wrongdoing and gather evidence for narratives and visual communication.

Our impact: We emphasised the importance of political narratives and advocacy rooted in verified evidence while also recognising the power of engaging storytelling and visual narratives to involve more people in meaningful conversations about their contexts. Simultaneously, in collaboration with our partners, we pioneered the creation of independent resources on privacy and rights, such as Me and My Shadow. Through these resources, we illustrated that digital security concerns everyone, highlighting the value of personal data and the associated political risks.

Impact Focus: Field building.

Work areas: Information Activism (Rights-based digital campaigning), Digital Security and Human Rights and Privacy and Rights.

  • Info-Activism & visualising informationPrivacy & RightsInteractive tool

    2015: TRACKOGRAPHY: a map to track where your data goes

    This interactive map shows where people's data is moving - and through which companies - when they read news articles online. The tool lets you see who is tracking you when you read the news online and where your data travels along the way.

    Explore More
    Screenshot of the Trackography website
  • Holistic & Digital SecurityManual

    2014: Holistic Security: a manual for human rights defenders

    Founded on the understanding that 'security' is a deeply personal, subjective and gendered concept, this manual is the first to adopt an explicitly 'holistic' approach to security and protection strategies for human rights defenders.

    Explore more
    Picture of the Holistic Security manual
  • Holistic & Digital SecurityPrivacy & RightsToolkit

    2013: Digital Security Tools and Tactics for Environmental Rights Defenders in Sub-Saharan Africa

    The third in our series of contextualised adaptations of Security in-a-box.

  • Milestone

    2013: Award

    We received a Prix Ars Electronica (Honourable Mention) award for the Land Matrix, an online public database on land deals we developed in 2012 with the Land Coalition.

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    Screenshot of Land Matrix Project
  • Advocacy & digital campaigningInfo-Activism & visualising informationGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2013: Visualising Information for Advocacy

    The guide includes advice and ideas on how to influence issues using the right combination of information, design, technologies and networks.  This book provides advocates and activists with tools, tips and good practices for using visual elements in their campaigns,

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    PIcture of several copies of the Visualising Information for Advocacy book
  • Holistic & Digital SecurityPrivacy & RightsMilestone

    2013: Award

    Tactical Tech's MyShadow.org won a Deutsche Welle Bobs: Best in Online Activism award in the "Most Creative and Original" category.

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    DW Logo des Projekts The Bobs 2013 ohne hosted by Deutsche Welle. Image: DW
  • Holistic & Digital SecurityOpen-source software for non-profitToolkit

    2013: Digital Security Tools and Tactics for the LGBTI community in sub-Saharan Africa

    Our second contextualised adaptation of Security in-a-box.

  • Holistic & Digital SecurityOpen-source software for non-profitToolkit

    2013: Digital Security Tools and Tactics for LGBTI Communities in the Middle East and North Africa

    Our first adaptation of Security in-a-box was published to contextualise threats for specific communities and created in collaboration with these communities.

    Picture of the Digital Security Tools and Tactics for LGBTI
Communities in the Middle East and North Africa
  • Info-Activism & visualising informationExperiences & Interventions

    2013: Info-Activism Camp, Italy

    135 advocates from 45 countries came to the hills of Italy for a week of training, skill-sharing and collaboration. Connecting with others facing similar challenges and sharing good practices creatively, they gained tools to implement digital advocacy tactics successfully.

  • Info-Activism & visualising informationToolkit

    2013: Info-Activism How-to Guide: an online toolkit for campaigning

    It brought together info-activism strategies, digital tools and case studies worldwide. The Guide included basic campaigning how-tos, tools for collaboration, outreach, mobile communication, and examples of inspiring info-activism campaigns.

    Explore more
    Screenshot of the Info-Activism How-to Guide website
  • Holistic & Digital SecurityInvestigative Methods & ToolsGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2013: Exposing the Invisible is born: building the capacity of citizen investigators

    The project launched with three films focusing on new forms of citizen investigation. Seven video sketches and a bank of resources were created to help people to start their own investigations. The resources featured aimed to help activists protect themselves and their work.

    One of the first illustrations of Exposing the Invisible project

2009-2012

With wider access to technology, certain countries experienced heightened government surveillance and corporate intrusion into personal data. Activists and rights groups demanded interactive tools and solutions to empower their teams and communities against growing digital security risks. In response, we created innovative and adaptable resources for individuals to learn self-protection and foster a safer digital environment.

Impact: Utilising our expertise and our network of partners, we developed user-friendly tools and practical advice for individuals to safeguard themselves and their data. We transformed theoretical concepts into easy-to-follow, step-by-step activities available in multiple languages. Through these resources, we empowered non-profits to enhance the digital security skills of their less tech-savvy members who faced the greatest exposure to risks. These innovative and diverse resources marked the beginning of our outreach to a wider audience beyond the non-profit sector and the tech-savvy communities.

Impact Focus: Training.

Work areas: Information Activism (Rights-based digital campaigning) and Digital Security and Human Rights.

  • Holistic & Digital SecurityPrivacy & RightsToolkit

    2012: Me and My Shadow: tips for everyone interested in protecting their privacy online

    An interactive website that helps people explore and minimise their 'digital shadows': the information traces you leave behind when you use the internet and mobile phones. The project won a Deutsche Welle Bobs Award for "most creative" online activism in 2013.

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    Illustration of the My and My Shadow Project
  • Advocacy & digital campaigningInfo-Activism & visualising informationMilestone

    2010: Tactical Studios saw the light

    Our creative client-services agency was launched in 2010. Tactical Studios worked directly with campaigners, NGOs and other organisations to help them use information more effectively to communicate, raise awareness and push for social change.

  • Holistic & Digital SecurityMedia and digital literacyPrivacy & RightsVideo

    2010: ONO Robot series "Survival in the Digital Age"

    Survival in the Digital Age is a series of short animations and clips featuring our cute ONO Robot that took a closer look at the technologies people were using and the risks each technology posed to people's safety and privacy.

    Illustration of the ONO Robot series "Survival in the Digital Age"
  • Info-Activism & visualising informationExperiences & Interventions

    2010: Visualising Women's Rights in the Arab World

    This initiative was created to strengthen the use of visual techniques by women's rights advocates in the Arab world. 45 women's rights activists from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Egypt were trained and received mentoring to develop their own visual advocacy campaigns.

    Illustration of the Visualising Women's Rights in the Arab World resource
  • Advocacy & digital campaigningToolkit

    2009: Mobiles in-a-box: Tools and Tactics for Mobile Advocacy

    This collection of tools, tactics, how-to guides and case studies is designed to inspire advocacy organisations and present possibilities for using mobile telephony in their work. It provides practical solutions for people to use mobiles in their advocacy efforts.

  • Advocacy & digital campaigningToolkit

    2009: Ten Tactics project: How to communicate a cause

    A film that documented stories and an on- and offline interactive toolkit were launched to provide original ways for rights advocates to capture attention and communicate a cause. The film was translated into 25 languages and was shown at over 200 screenings in over 60 countries.

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    Screenshot of the 10 Tactics slow motion video by La Loma
  • Holistic & Digital SecurityToolkit

    2009: Security-in-a-Box: tools and tactics for digital security

    Recognised worldwide as a foundational resource for helping people at risk protect their digital security and privacy, the toolkit launched with Frontline Defenders supported a global community of human rights defenders. Over 800 NGO members worldwide were trained.

    Picture of the Security in a Box hard copy
  • Advocacy & digital campaigningInfo-Activism & visualising informationExperiences & Interventions

    2009: First Info-Activism Camp, a space for collaboration and skill sharing

    A uniquely hands-on space with an open-learning framework and stress on participation. It brought together 130 advocates. We used interactive, peer-based learning techniques to help advocates realise the impact of digital technologies on their campaigns.

    Picture of the Info-Activism Camp hosted in India in 2009

2006-2008

Digital technology was nearly ubiquitous and was becoming the primary means of creating and sharing information. We focused our work on how non-profits could use technologies in campaigning, especially in low and middle-income countries, to present and visualise data and information and create engaging narratives that support their work. That is what we call Information Activism.

Our impact: We compiled the best visualisation and storytelling tactics and strategies worldwide. We made them accessible to non-profits to address the types of visual storytelling that work best for their audiences. We turned case studies and theory into specific practices that organisations could adapt and replicate. During this period, our training camps created unique networking opportunities for non-profits and new projects and collaborations were born. These events served as catalysts and advanced technological knowledge and skills.

Impact Focus: Capacity building.

Work areas: Advocacy and Info Activism.

  • Advocacy & digital campaigningInfo-Activism & visualising informationGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2008: Message-in-a-Box: Tools and tactics for communicating your cause

    A set of strategic guides to using communications tools for social change and a suite of open-source tools to get people to make their own media. It was designed for NGOs, advocates, and citizen journalists to help them create and distribute content for their advocacy.

  • Advocacy & digital campaigning

    2008: The Quick 'n Easy Guide to Online Advocacy

    This guide was first published in May 2008, with an updated version released in April 2009. The guide is no longer in publication, however updated content can be found in our Women's Rights Campaigning toolkit.

  • Advocacy & digital campaigningInfo-Activism & visualising informationGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2008: Maps for Advocacy: introducing geographical mapping techniques.

    An introduction to Geographical Mapping Techniques. The booklet is a practical guide to using maps in advocacy. It includes case studies, descriptions of procedures and methods, a review of data sources, and a glossary of mapping terminology.

    Picture of the Maps for Advocacy hard copy
  • Advocacy & digital campaigningGuides, guidebooks & PDFs

    2008: Quick n' Easy Guide to Online Advocacy: building capacity around digital campaigning

    The Guide aimed to expose advocates to online services that are quick to use and easy to understand. The guide described online services, including social networking sites, image and video hosting services, and services that enhance an organisation's web presence.

    Picture of the Quick n' Easy Guide to Online Advocacy hard copy
  • Holistic & Digital SecurityOpen-source software for non-profitExperiences & Interventions

    2007: Asia Source II

    Hosted in Sukabumi, Indonesia, this event brought together 130 participants who exchanged knowledge, experiences and skills.

  • Open-source software for non-profitExperiences & Interventions

    2006: Africa Source II, Uganda

    The event brought together 130 participants to discuss the topics of migration, alternative access, information handling, advocacy and localisation. The agenda was developed by NGO members, IT developers, advocates and people interested in the localisation of software.

2003-2005

Technology was quickly becoming a crucial asset for non-profit organisations and advocacy groups. Discussions were being held on how civil society organisations should employ and engage with technology. It was important to identify suitable technology for non-profits and to promote best practices to address the unforeseen consequences of its use.

Our impact: We put alternative technologies for non-profits on the map and brought together organisations and individuals who were already building the capacity of non-profits. Together, we developed tools and shared knowledge about open-source software, digital safety and security for non-profits. Through a global network of digital security trainers, we gained insights from diverse perspectives and localised resources to different contexts. Our scalable methodology changed how things were done. Working together became a fixture of our activities.

Impact Focus: Capacity building.

Work areas: Open source software in the non-profit sector and Digital Security and Social Justice

  • Open-source software for non-profitToolkit

    2005: NGO in-a-box: the Open Publishing edition for content creators

    This was a toolkit of free and open-source software, tutorials and guides for producing, publishing and distributing content. The edition, produced in collaboration with iCommons, is aimed at non-profits, independent media organisations, free culture creators and grassroots journalists.

  • Holistic & Digital SecurityOpen-source software for non-profitToolkit

    2005: NGO in-a-box: Security edition: digital security and privacy tools for Rights Defenders and Independent Media

    Launched in collaboration with  Front Line Human Rights Defenders, this toolkit was a selection of free and open-source software, materials and guides for digital security and privacy. More than two thousand hard copies were distributed in over 45 countries, and over 800 NGO members were trained.

  • Open-source software for non-profitExperiences & Interventions

    2005: Asia Source, Bangalore

    Asia Source was an eight-day hands-on workshop to build the technical skills of those working with NGOs in South and South East Asia. The experience brought together nearly 100 NGOs and NGO technology support professionals working locally across the region.

  • Open-source software for non-profitExperiences & Interventions

    2004: Africa Source, Namibia

    The Source camp brought together 60 participants working in African non-profit organisations to learn about technology use for non-profits, Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS) in the African context, and how to build cooperation.

  • Holistic & Digital SecurityOpen-source software for non-profitToolkit

    2003: NGO-in-a-box : tools for the day-to-day of NGOs

    Created in association with WomensNet. Thousands of NGOs and advocacy organisations used this toolkit. It could be accessed online, but its primary form was a physical box set of CDs, providing immediate access to all the software tools without downloading.

  • Open-source software for non-profitCollaborationExperiences & Interventions

    2003: Guru Gatherings: collaboration to develop solutions

    These gatherings were designed to bring together leading practitioners worldwide to share experiences and drive forward the development of solutions and cooperation about a particular technology issue. Focused on Wireless, Refurbished computers and Open Source.

  • Open-source software for non-profitExperiences & Interventions

    2003: Summer Source- Croatia

    In September 2003, Tactical Tech and the Multimedia Institute Croatia hosted the first Summer Source, an eight-day event with 80 participants and facilitators from 34 countries working to implement Free and Open Source Software (F/OSS) solutions for civil society organisations.

  • Open-source software for non-profitExperiences & Interventions

    2003: Source Camps : Fostering collaboration, co-creation and capacity building

    The Source Camps  brought together non-profit actors and experienced techies to share knowledge, build skills and long-term collaborations. The methodologies and replication materials were published and used as the basis for seven camps held in Asia and Africa between 2003 - 2009.

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    Gathering of several people in a colorful venue
  • Milestone

    2003: Connecting the dots: collaborating and co-creating from the start

    Tactical Technology Collective was founded by Stephanie Hankey and Marek Tuszynski.