Are you a technologist, journalist, human rights defender, lawyer, CSOs, academic, or student passionate about digital rights and secure communications in the SWANA region? Participate in the SMEX Secure Communication Workshop on October 10 and 11.
The Secure Communications Hackathon brings together 20 carefully selected participants from across the region to prototype communication solutions that withstand the region’s real and pressing conditions. For two days, participants will learn about the live threat landscape of the SWANA region, including internet shutdowns and throttling, targeted spyware and surveillance, device seizure at checkpoints, and platform-level censorship. They will receive practical training on the trade-offs of existing secure communications tools and work hands-on to build prototypes grounded in real user needs.
Whether you bring technical skills or deep expertise in policy, journalism, and digital rights, your contribution will help us build tools that are practical, resilient, and people-centered.
Why join?
During the first day, you will work through the region’s real complexities: how to build tools that function during internet shutdowns and throttling, how to ensure communications remain private even when devices are seized, how to design for users who may not read English or have access to Google Play, and how to maintain safety and deniability in high-risk environments.
On the second day, participants will work in interdisciplinary teams to develop prototype solutions addressing challenges such as:
- Shutdown-resilient coordination: keeping a newsroom or CSO functioning when the internet is throttled or down.
- Safe intake and case handling: secure channels for help desks and organizations receiving sensitive information from at-risk people.
- Checkpoint-safe communications: tools and workflows that protect people whose devices may be seized or inspected.
Who should apply?
We are looking for a diverse group of 20 technologists, journalists, lawyers, CSOs, human rights defenders, academics, and students to collaborate, learn, and prototype solutions. Applicants must be based in or have strong ties to the SWANA region and be committed to advancing digital rights and secure communications.
Disclaimer: Given the sensitivity of the topic and participants, this event is closed and by invitation only. Interested individuals are asked to fill out a brief application form using a chosen name. Only minimal information is requested, and all applications are reviewed thoroughly. Invitations go out through secure channels, and the participants list is never published.
Apply to our be part of the Hackathon:
The post Bread&Net 2026: Participate in our Secure Communications Hackathon appeared first on SMEX.