How to collect and store information in a secure way
Tools to collect information
Tella app
Tella is a free app that is available for Android devices and will be available for iOS soon. It can be used by anyone who engages in collecting information on injustices. Tella allows users to produce high-quality documentation that can be used for research, advocacy or transitional justice. Tella can be connected to KoboToolbox, Uwazi, or another database platform to store, organize and analyze the information.
LimeSurvey
LimeSurvey is a simple, quick and anonymous online survey tool. It is open source, allowing people to host LimeSurvey themselves. This self-hosted version is called LimeSurvey Community Edition, and all your data is stored on your or your provider’s server (usually the one where you installed LimeSurvey).
SecureDrop
SecureDrop is an open source whistleblower submission system that media organizations and NGOs can install to securely accept documents from anonymous sources. SecureDrop is available in 22 languages.
Globaleaks
GlobaLeaks is free, open-source software enabling anyone to easily set up and maintain a secure whistleblowing platform. It is possible to host this software with Greenhost.
Tools to store information
Uwazi database to store information
Uwazi is a web-based tool designed for managing your data in one easy-to-search place. This open-source database application allows you to capture, organise and make sense of a set of facts, observations, testimonies, research, documents and more.
Ways to collect and store information
Tella to collect and Uwazi to store information
Organisations who already use Uwazi to store their information, can connect Tella to one or more of their databases to upload data. Using Tella for the information collection enables users who work offline to collect data, add it to the submission forms, save it and upload the information when it is convenient. In addition to the protection and encryption features, working in offline mode is a huge benefit for those who collect information in risky environments and areas with limited or no connectivity. More information: https://huridocs.org/2022/07/the-new-tella-app-lets-uwazi-users-document-violations-safely-and-while-offline/
For more tools used for documenting human rights violations, see Tools for securely documenting human rights violations