Internet Governance Lessons Africa Can Learn From Brazil’s Success Story

By Arthur Gwagwa |

In the past decade, most African countries, with a few exceptions, have increased their technical and legal surveillance capabilities, under the justification of fighting crime and terrorism. State surveillance has also impacted negatively on human rights, in particular the right to freedom of speech, privacy, association and political participation. Therefore the cyberspace continue to present important opportunities…

Update on the State of Internet Freedom in Burundi

By Jean Paul Nkurunziza and Alain Ndikumana |

Following on from the State of Internet Freedoms in Burundi 2014 report published last May, this brief presents an update on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) access, the legal and regulatory policies and practices that affect internet freedoms in the Burundi. It covers the period from March 2014 to May 2015. Notably, Burundi has been rocked by a…

OpenNet Africa Challenge Uncovers Gaps in Digital Safety Tools

By Ashnah Kalemera |

There are numerous tools which can secure online users’ communications, including through anonymising their identities and enabling them to circumvent online surveillance and censorship. In some cases, developers have gone on to localise such tools to suit various contexts. However, the tools’ relevance to certain populations and how best to improve them for a diverse range of…

Facebook’s Internet.org: A strategic project bridging the African digital divide?

By Arthur Gwagwa

The debate on net neutrality pitting the haves and have-nots is not a new one in projects that draws multiple stakeholders from the global north and south. Although these hemispheres are under one sky, their perspectives on what development entails have different horizons. The scathing criticism of internet.org, though based on principle, needs to descend to the realm…

East African Court Declares Sections of Burundi’s Media Law ‘Undemocratic’

By Wairagala Wakabi

The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has ruled that sections of Burundi’s Press Law of 2013 violate democratic principles and should be repealed. However, the court upheld several other clauses, including those related to regulation of print and online media.

Delivered on May 15 at the Arusha, Tanzania-based court, the ruling found two articles (19 & and 20)…

Africa’s Worst New Internet Censorship Law Could be Coming to South Africa

By Jeremy Malcom

Only once in a while does an Internet censorship law or regulation come along that is so audacious in its scope, so misguided in its premises, and so poorly thought out in its execution, that you have to check your calendar to make sure April 1 hasn’t come around again. The Draft Online Regulation Policy recently issued by…

Online Censorship in South Africa

South Africa is among the top five African countries with the highest mobile broadband reach, preceded by Ghana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Egypt. As of June 2014, internet users had increased to 52% of the population, majority of them using mobile devices to access the internet.

Although the country has been ranked free in internet freedom rankings and held highly in respect…

World Press Freedom: Ugandan Journalists Convened for Digital Security Training

By Juliet Nanfuka

On May 2, a total of 27 Ugandan journalists were trained in digital security procedures. The training was held in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (May 3), which this year was celebrated under the theme “Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality, and Media Safety in the Digital Age”.

The training, which was organised by the Collaboration on…