By Rodney Muhumuza |
KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law legislation criminalizing some internet activity despite concerns the law could be used to silence legitimate criticism.
The bill, passed by the legislature in September, was brought by a lawmaker who said it was necessary to punish those who hide behind computers to hurt others. That lawmaker argued in his…
Announcement |
The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is pleased to announce the return to a physical event of the ninth edition of the annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica22). The landmark event, which convenes a spectrum of stakeholders from across the internet governance and digital rights arenas in Africa and beyond, will…
News Update |
The IPI global network today urged Botswana to withdraw a proposed law that would allow for warrantless surveillance of communications. The bill has been sharply criticized by media representatives in Botswana and Africa.
Botswana’s government is currently pushing the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Bill through parliament. If passed, the bill will have a chilling effect on press freedom, Spencer Magopi,…
News update |
When a staffer at the independent media website Iwacu in the central African state of Burundi tried to visit the outlet online in late October, they received an error message instead. “Hum. Nous ne parvenons pas à trouver ce site;” the site could not be found – even though the local media regulator had promised to unblock it in February.
A report published in August found…
Call for Applications |
In the lead up to the International Disability Day, on December 3, 2021, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is inviting journalists from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to apply for a two-day media training on Disability and Digital Rights in Africa. The virtual training will take place over two full days…
Opinion |
We know that the issues around digital surveillance are complicated. The tech side of the tools used and the means to circumvent them are complicated. Drawing a hard line between what may be acceptable to help ensure our personal security and what pushes our societies into Orwellian territory is also complicated.
As the revelations of the Pegasus Project show us, illegal surveillance…
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…
By CIPESA Staff |
Elections are an essential democratic process during which citizens need access to a range of credible information in order to participate meaningfully and to make informed choices. But elections can also be highly charged affairs and, with the increasing proliferation of digital technologies, there is always a danger of rising cases of online hate speech.
This scenario requires…
News update in Djibouti |
Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh’s scathing attack on media outlet “La Voix de Djibouti” points to the country’s continued suppression of independent and alternate voices.
This statement was originally published on rsf.org on 9 December 2020.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is appalled by Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh’s defamatory comments in a magazine interview about the only independent media outlet operated…
News Update in Guinea Bissau |
Thirty radio stations in Guinea Bissau suspended broadcast for 24 hours. The act was in solidarity with Radio Capital FM after a disturbing attack on the media outlet.
Seven privately-owned and 23 community radio stations across Guinea Bissau took part in the act termed “a day of silence”. About thirty journalists also gathered in front of Capital…