Global Justice Initiative works with activists in 30 countries. In 2023, they mandated PGP encryption for all email after a partner organization was compromised through intercepted messages. Security director Leif Andersen expected some friction but not the communication collapse that followed.
Security Improvements They Achieved
Sensitive case files and witness testimonies now travel through encrypted channels that surveillance systems cannot intercept. The organization documented six instances where encrypted emails prevented information from reaching hostile governments. Staff members in high-risk regions gained confidence sharing details they previously withheld due to security fears. The encryption system costs $12 per user monthly, manageable within their technology budget.
Communication Barriers Nobody Anticipated
External partners without technical expertise struggled to set up PGP keys. Response rates from journalists dropped from 78% to 31% because the encryption requirement added complexity they would not navigate. Pro bono lawyers stopped using email entirely and switched to phone calls, which created no documentation trail for case files. Volunteer coordinators spent 8-10 hours weekly helping contacts troubleshoot encryption software instead of doing program work. The organization lost contact with 40% of their regular correspondents who simply stopped replying rather than learn the new system.
The Compromise They Reached
Andersen created a two-tier system: mandatory encryption for case-related communication and optional encryption for general coordination. This reduced the dropout rate to 18% while maintaining protection for sensitive data. They now budget 20 hours monthly for encryption support and created video tutorials in six languages. The organization accepts that some security-conscious communication will exclude partners who lack technical capacity, a trade-off they debate internally every quarter.