Open Internet News

2nd October 2015

The Challenge of Tackling Online Violence Against Women in Africa

By Evelyn Lirri |

The story of a 19-year-old student from Kenya who committed suicide after a man she met through Facebook threatened to publish her nude photos came to the limelight on the heels of the opening day of the Forum on Internet Freedom in East Africa, which took place in Kampala, Uganda.

The forum, organised by the Collaboration on International…

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The Challenge of Tackling Online Violence Against Women in Africa

By Evelyn Lirri |

The story of a 19-year-old student from Kenya who committed suicide after a man she met through Facebook threatened to publish her nude photos came to the limelight on the heels of the opening day of the Forum on Internet Freedom in East Africa, which took place in Kampala, Uganda.

The forum, organised by the Collaboration on International…

Read more...

24th September 2015

Access to Information in Uganda to be Recognised at Internet Freedom Forum

As part of its OpenNet Africa initiative which is aimed at promoting internet rights in Africa, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is next week set to host the second Forum on Internet Freedom in East Africa. The two-day event is scheduled for 28 and 29 September 2015, in Kampala, Uganda and will coincide with the International Right to Know…

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27th August 2015

Waiguru sues Google, Kenyan website for defamation

Devolution secretary Anne Waiguru has renewed her battle with Internet giant Google, from whom she is seeking compensation for an alleged defamatory story that was published by a Kenyan blogger.

Ms Waiguru has filed a fresh suit against California-based Google, its subsidiary Blogger Inc and Kenyan website Daily Post seeking payment for the story, which was published in the wake of…

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18th August 2015

Tough New Election Reporting Rules for Tanzania’s Bloggers

By Wairagala Wakabi |

Tanzania has introduced tough guidelines for broadcasters and online content providers including bloggers, as the country heads to the October 2015 elections at which observers say the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), faces its strongest challenge ever.

Titled ‘The Broadcasting Services (Content) (The Political Party Elections Broadcasts) Code 2015’, the rules were gazetted on June 26, 2015…

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2nd August 2015

Forum on Internet Freedom in East Africa

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), under the OpenNet Africa initiative, is proud to announce the upcoming Forum on Internet Freedoms in East Africa. The two-day Forum is scheduled for  28 – 29 September 2015,  in Kampala, Uganda, to coincide with the International Right to Know Day.

During the Forum, we’ll discuss the current state of internet freedoms in…

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23rd July 2015

CIPESA Promotes Digital Safety Awareness and Skills for Media Practitioners in Kenya

By Marilyn Vernon and Liz Orembo |

Threats to citizens’ access to information, privacy, security and freedom of expression online are increasingly coming under scrutiny in East Africa. According to the World Press Freedom Index, Kenya who was ranked number 71 out of 180 countries in 2013, dropped 29 places to number 100 in 2014. Meanwhile, cybercrime is also on the rise in the country. The Kenya…

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7th July 2015

Hunting Down Social Media ‘Abusers’ in Uganda as Elections Near

By CIPESA Staff |

As Uganda draws closer to the February 2016 presidential elections, the fever of anxiety in government corridors is rising. Over the years, election periods have seen a crackdown on social media, voices critical of the ruling party, and independent media in the guise of promoting public order and unity as well as preventing the spread of false information. This, however,…

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