MLDI to Host a Strategic Digital Rights Litigation Workshop at FIFAfrica18

Announcement |
Litigation has been recognised as a potentially effective tool in removing restrictions on the free flow of information online in countries with repressive internet regimes. Increasingly, some initiatives are seeking to encourage collaboration among different actors in strategic litigation for a free and open internet.
Indeed, various cases in litigation for the respect and realisation of digital rights have recently been recorded in Cameroon, Kenya, Burundi and Gambia, among…

MFWA to Co-Host Africa’s Biggest Internet Freedom Event

Announcement |

From September 26 to 28, 2018, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) will co-host Africa’s biggest Internet freedom forum in Accra, Ghana.  The annual convening, which is dubbed Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) brings together key stakeholders in the Internet governance and online/digital rights environment from the continent and beyond.

The MFWA will be hosting the forum jointly with…

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…

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…

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)…

President Kenyatta Assents to Cybercrimes Bill Amid Protests

News Update |

President Uhuru Kenyatta has assented to the Computer and Cybercrimes Bill, 2017. The new law imposes hefty fines and long prison terms for cyber bullies and fake news dealers. It also targets journalists, media houses, social media users, bloggers and other internet users.

The assent comes amid calls for the president to revert the law back to Parliament to…

Advancing Internet Policy Research in Africa

By Juliet Nanfuka |

The conversation and actions on internet related policy in Africa have grown in recent years as has the appreciation of its impact on internet users. However, research to support advocacy for improved internet policy development on the continent remains relatively low despite a growing internet penetration and its resultant impact on the continent’s social, economic and political scenes. This…

GPU Welcomes Ecowas Court Ruling on Gambia Anti-free Speech Laws

News Update-Africa|
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) welcomes the ruling made by the Abuja-based Ecowas Court of Justice on Wednesday February 14, on the legality of the laws of sedition, criminal defamation, false publication on the internet and false publication and broadcasting.
In 2015, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) along with four Gambian exiled journalists, namely Fatou Camara, Lamin Fatty, Alagie…

The Rise of The Namibian Surveillance State

Namibian law enforcement & security authorities could already be engaging in surveillance abuse and could now just be seeking legal cover from politicians and lawmakers.

What is worrying is that while these securocratic blocks are seemingly set to fall into place one by one, selective closed-door consultations are being used to create the illusion of public or stakeholder engagement, while no actual…

Scrapping of Broadcasting and Access to Information Laws Long Overdue

Zimbabwe News Update|

MISA- Zimbabwe welcomes remarks by Acting Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Simon Khaya Moyo, that his ministry is in the process of aligning the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) with the Constitution.

Moyo was speaking at the launch of the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe’s elections programme on…