March 1, 2010: Hey there, new visitors! Since we were unexpectedly covered on Slashgear today, we decided to launch our new website a bit early. Go check it out at http://guardianproject.info/.
Developer or Android user? If you’d like to help code, plan, design or test, please contact Nathan Freitas -> nathanfreitas at gmail dot com.
Latest Updates
- October 2009: Tor ported to Android
- gReporter: citizen journalist tool source release
While mobile phones have been heralded as a powerful new tool for political activists, human rights advocates and public health initiatives around the globe, they are a step backwards when it comes to personal liberty, anonymity and safety. Google Android’s open-source mobile telephony platform provides a foundation on which a new type of phone that cloaks its user and their data, both on the device itself and as it communicates around the world.
Detailed Project Overview
There are many compelling stories about the power of mobile phones in human rights causes. However, there are almost as many stories of how the authorities use these same phones against the people.
The common question in both of these scenarios (”free” people traveling into an authoritarian state and citizens of the state trying to find some freedom within) was how everyone could have their voices heard, and communicate safely, securely and effectively with the outside world. How can SMS messages be sent with vital information without that same message being used to reveal or incriminate someone? How can the amazing power of these tiny mobile computing devices be fully realized, while at the same time not used against them by the state power who usually runs or at least monitors all mobile phone communication. While great strides have been made in Internet-based security, privacy and anonymity, the same can’t be said for our telephones. This project gives power to regular people to own and control their mobile phones without being afraid they are their own worsed enemy.
Existing mobile security products show promise, but are out of date, not good enough or too expensive. A movement is already underway to create custom versions of Android for a wide variety of phones and purposes…. we just need to tap into that!