Joint Letter on Internet Shutdown in Uganda

By Access Now |

Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, Mr. David Kaye, Mr. Joseph Cannataci, Mr. Maina Kiai, Mr. Michel Forst, Ms. Faith Pansy Tlakula, and Ms. Reine Alapini-Gansou

cc: African Union
African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Secretariat
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Secretariat
Domestic & International Election Observer Missions to the Republic of Uganda
East African Community Secretariat
International Conference on the Great Lakes…

Row Over Eavesdrop Bill … Media Foundation Urges Mass Protest

By Richard Kofi Attenkah |
Plans by the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration to enact a new legislation that would enable it eavesdrop or intercept messages of telecommunication users in the country has been met with strong opposition from key personalities in the country.
Personalities such as Franklin Cudjoe -Founding President and CEO for IMANI Ghana and Sulemana Braimah -Executive Director…

Ugandans Turn to Proxies, VPN in Face of Social Media Shutdown

By CIPESA Writer,

On the morning of the highly anticipated general elections in Uganda, citizens woke up to no access to social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp. The popular mobile phone-based financial transaction service commonly known as Mobile Money was also offline.

…

New Year, Old Habits: Threats to Freedom of Expression Online in Kenya

By Juliet Nanfuka,

The beginning of 2016 has been marked with a series of arrests and summonses of individuals in Kenya as a result of content shared through social media platforms. Contrary to the constitutional right to freedom of expression, the incidents that relate to up to 10 individuals illustrate the Kenya Government’s continued use of vague legal provisions to stifle…

What Should be on the 2016 Agenda for Internet Freedom in Africa?

By CIPESA Writer |

Towards the end of 2015, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) under the OpenNet Africa initiative convened some of Africa’s leading thought leaders to discuss the various facets of internet freedom in Africa.

The Forum on Internet Freedom in East Africa is one of very few gatherings that assemble an African audience within the continent to discuss matters related to…

Man Lands in Trouble for Sharing Photos of Dead Kenyan Troops on Whatsapp

A man has been charged in a Nairobi court for sharing pictures of slain Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers on WhatsApp.

Capital News reports that the man was arraigned before the court on charges of sharing indecent photographs in a public forum and threatening to disturb peace in the country.

…

Kenyan Charged for WhatsApp Somalia Victim Pics

Nairobi – A Kenyan man has been charged for publishing pictures alleged to be of Kenyan soldiers killed last week by Islamic extremist rebels in Somalia.The man, Eddy Reuben Illah, appeared in court on Tuesday, denied the charges and was remanded in custody. The charge sheet said the photos distributed by the suspect were “likely to cause fear and alarm.…

Rwomushana Faces Hate-Speech Charges

By Andrew Bagala,

KAMPALA- Police yesterday indicated that they are investigating Mr Charles Rwomushana, a former intelligence operative with the Internal Security Organisation, for publishing hate-speeches on his social media platforms.

…

Dialogue on Internet Rights and Freedom in Kenya

By Marilyn Vernon |

In Kenya, whereas the use of the internet had expanded into all areas of day to day living, the threat of government surveillance and interference has impacted upon user confidence in the security of their online interactions. This comes after several local bloggers and social media users have been arrested and in some cases charged with misuse…

Civil Society Submits an Open letter to the Nigerian Senate

Open letter to the Nigerian Senate on the matter of the Frivolous Petitions Prohibition Bill (aka “Social Media” Bill)

Distinguished Senators,

We are a coalition of Nigerian, African, and international organisations writing to you about the proposed Frivolous Petitions (Prohibitions, etc) Bill that has provisions for social media regulation. We believe that the bill is a dangerous encroachment upon free expression and…