Code of Courage: A Comic About Digital Security for Activists

We are excited to announce the release of our comic, Code of Courage: A Comic About Digital Security for Activists. This project draws inspiration from the stories of resilience shared by over 90 activists from Myanmar, Colombia, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Cameroon. The comic addresses the challenges of technology-facilitated violence and provides strategies to enhance privacy and security. While it offers general guidance, we acknowledge that security is deeply personal, influenced by unique circumstances and constantly evolving risks. Our hope is to spark meaningful conversations and raise awareness, while honoring the expertise of activists who navigate these challenges daily. We invite you to share the comic and explore new ideas inspired by it. If you have any feedback, suggestions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Laura Guntrum at guntrum@peasec.tu-darmstadt.de. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

A heartfelt thanks to the interviewees for sharing their invaluable insights, to Charikleia Livani and Franziska Schraut for their brilliant ideas and illustrations, and to Julian Lawrence for his exceptional guidance and support.

What is the comic about?

Alex, Sarah, Maria, and Daniel are four friends deeply committed to human rights activism in a country grappling with increasing authoritarianism. Their efforts to organize and amplify their message on social media are met with relentless challenges: internet shutdowns, hacked accounts, direct threats, and constant surveillance—tactics aimed at silencing dissent and instilling fear. Daniel’s arrest for his involvement in the protests served as a stark reminder of the dangers they all faced.

Despite this, Alex, Sarah, and Marias determination to continue their work pushes them to find ways to outsmart these obstacles and to constantly adapt to new circumstances. Together, they embark on a journey to strengthen their digital security and privacy, learning to analyze their unique risks and make informed decisions.  They learn to analyze their unique risks, considering who might be targeting them and the specific threats they face. Through this personal threat analysis, they begin to understand what information could endanger them if exposed, who is behind the digital attacks, and the capabilities of their adversaries. Along the way, they discover that not every tool is suited for their context—some apps, while secure, might raise suspicion, and the balance between security and visibility proves to be a delicate challenge. With each step, they come to see the importance of staying informed, adapting quickly, and regularly updating their practices to outpace the evolving tactics of oppression. Their journey is one of resilience, resourcefulness, and the unshakable belief that their cause is worth fighting for. By sharing knowledge and adapting their strategies, they become more resilient, proving that even in a semi-authoritarian state, their voices can remain strong.

Their story is a testament to the importance of understanding personal risks and making informed decisions. As their journey unfolds, they prove that with knowledge, adaptability, and teamwork, even in the face of technology-facilitated violence, the fight for justice can continue—and their voices can remain unshaken.

Click here to download the comic directly!

Prefer to read it online? you can read it directly below.