Open Internet News

4th July 2018

Measuring the Digital Divide: Why We Should be Using a Women-centered Analysis

Targeting ‘the gap’ between women and men in access to the internet is fundamental in reaching the goal of access for all. In an article for the Alliance for Affordable internet, the Web Foundation argues that the indicator of this gap should be calculated relative to a women-centred reference when the intention is to focus on the disparity and disadvantages faced…

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3rd July 2018

Apply For UPRoar: Advocating for Internet Freedom with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Apply Now |

Are you interested in Internet Freedom? Are you worried about the social and economic impact of internet shutdowns? The increase of media censorship? Is your government using outdated media laws to regulate online spaces? Are they inventing new policies to clamp down on internet users? Do you want to do something about it?! Then read on!

In the lead…

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2nd July 2018

Uganda Blocks Access to Social Media, VPNs and Dating Sites as New Tax Takes Effect

By Juliet Nanfuka |

As of midnight on July 1, 2018, telecom companies in Uganda blocked access to social media platforms for all users and required them to pay a newly introduced Over-The-Top” (OTT) tax before regaining access. The tax resulted from a March 2018 presidential directive for social media to be taxed to raise resources “to cope with the consequences” of…

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25th June 2018

Oral Statement Delivered At The United Nations Human Rights Council

Joint Statement |
 

Thank you, Mr. President.

This statement is delivered on behalf of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), Derechos Digitales, and the Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET).

As organisations committed to maintaining the use of the internet for human rights, social justice and sustainable development, we are concerned about…

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17th June 2018

African Bloggers want Tanzania to Repeal the Online Content Regulations

Tanzania News |

Dar es Salam. African Bloggers have asked Tanzanian Government to revoke the provision of Electronic and Postal Communication Act ( EPOCA) Online Content Regulations, 2018.

They also called upon the regional integrations including the African Union (AU), the East African Community EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Economic Community of West African (ECOWAS) to strongly urge…

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14th June 2018

Media Watchdog Calls on Tanzania to Scrap Online Content Law

Tanzania News Update |

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Tuesday called on Tanzania to scrap a new law regulating Internet content, saying it targeted critics who had sought a “safe haven” online. The new law requires the operators of online platforms to divulge the names of their sources and contributors if the authorities require it.

News websites and blogs that are in breach…

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13th June 2018

2018 Edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) Set To Take Place In Ghana

Announcement |

The Collaboration for International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is pleased to announce the fifth edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica). This year, the Forum will be hosted in partnership with the Media Foundation West Africa (MFWA) and will take place on September 26–28, 2018 in Accra, Ghana.

The Forum is a landmark event that…

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11th June 2018

Tanzania Orders All Unregistered Bloggers To Take Down Their Sites

Tanzania News |

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Tanzania ordered all unregistered bloggers and online forums on Monday to suspend their websites immediately or face criminal prosecution, as critics accuse the government of tightening control of internet content.

Several sites, including popular online discussion platform Jamiiforums, said on Monday they had temporarily shut down after the state-run Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA)…

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