Open Internet News

21st October 2021

Eswatini Tells Mobile Operators to Suspend Facebook Access After Protests

News Update |
MBABANE, Oct 21 (Reuters) – Mobile operators in the southern African kingdom of Eswatini have been told to suspend access to Facebook (FB.O) and its messenger app, the local unit of telecoms group MTN (MTNJ.J) said, after protests against the king flared up.
MTN Eswatini said it had implemented the directive from the country’s communications commission to suspend Facebook access with immediate effect and…

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14th October 2021

Djibouti Telecom Begins Construction of New Cable Landing Station

Djibouti City Update |

Djibouti Telecom is today a leading strategic center for international telecommunications services in East Africa with its underlying network infrastructure comprising 8 operational submarine cable systems and 5 on-project cable systems. The company has 2 existing cable Landing Station. To meet the ever-growing demand and Network resiliency requirement, the company has started the construction of a New Cable…

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FIFAfrica21: Stronger International Cooperation Key to Advancing Digital Rights in Africa

By Apolo Kakaire |

Constructive international cooperation will be key to shaping digital rights in Africa and creating a path towards an inclusive, safe and secure internet on the continent. This observation was at the heart of the eighth  edition of the Forum for Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica21) as it kicked off on September 28, 2021. 

In a keynote panel discussion, Ambassador…

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Courts Declare Huduma Namba Invalid

By Kamau Muthoni |
The High Court has declared Huduma Namba invalid after ruling that the law wasn’t followed in its roll-out.
Justice Jairus Ngaah ruled on Thursday, October 14, that the Government failed to conduct data impact assessment before rolling out the cards in November last year, contravening the Constitution in the process.

Law scholar Yash Pal Ghai and Katiba Institute had, in November…

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12th October 2021

Will Our Human Rights and Freedoms and a Free and Open Internet be the Next Victims of Cybercrime?

Manifesto Launch |

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has joined civil society organisations and industry in a rally against the potential threat of cybercrime on human rights and freedoms as well as the open internet.

Day-by-day the effects of cybercrime continue to get worse. Although something clearly needs to be done, there is growing concern…

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FIFAfrica21: Africa Must be Assertive in International Cybercrime Negotiations

By Apolo Kakaire |

Local nuances, technology neutrality and cross-border cooperation should be at the heart of multi-stakeholder negotiations by African states as part of the United Nations (UN) process on elaborating an international convention on cybercrime. This is according to experts who brainstormed on how African stakeholders can contribute to the planned negotiations, and the role African civil society organisations can play in this process.

Speaking at…

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10th October 2021

Women Are Being Left Offline — And It’s Costing Governments Billions

News Update |

Our latest report, launched today at the 2021 Africa Symposium for Women and Girls, has found that low and lower-middle income countries have lost an estimated USD $1 trillion in GDP in the last decade as a result of barriers preventing women from accessing the internet and participating online.

As Web Foundation Director of Research Catherine Adeya explains:

“Closing the digital gender gap…

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7th October 2021

Togo: Prominent Activist Targeted With Indian-made Spyware Linked to Notorious Hacker Group

Togo Update |

Togolese activist targeted with spyware by the Donot Team hacker group.
Amnesty International exposes links between the Donot Team attacks and Innefu Labs, a cybersecurity company based in India.
First time Donot Team publicly linked to cyberattacks targeting activists outside of South Asia.
Spyware-loaded emails and fake Android applications could access device’s camera and microphone, steal photos and files, and read WhatsApp…

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