Tomiwa is a Senior ICFP fellow working with HURIDOCS to understand and improve digital security tools for human rights defenders (HRDs) in Sub-Saharan African contexts. Focusing on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Kenya and Zimbabwe, his fellowship project seeks to investigate how HRDs use digital security tools, their safety needs, and how digital security tool developers can use this information to build and improve their tools to keep HRDs safe. In order to ensure HRDs’ safety with the advent of pervasive and intrusive digital surveillance in highly repressive contexts, digital security tools need to reflect the actual needs of HRDs.
During his fellowship, Tomiwa will work with local organizations, HRDs, and tool developers to explore how digital security tools for HRDs can address their needs better. The project intends to inform tool developers on how to improve their tools for HRDs’ digital safety through sustainable feedback loops.
Tomiwa holds a doctorate degree on platform governance, business, and human rights. Prior to his ICFP fellowship, he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria. He has worked with several organizations on digital rights projects, research, and policy analysis.
