Internet Governance

By Edrine Wanyama | On July 17, 2020, the Tanzania government issued new Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2020 that apply to online content production, hosting and dissemination. The regulations entrench the licencing and taxation of bloggers, online discussion forums, radio and television webcasters, and repress online speech, privacy and access to information. […] Read more

By Jimmy Kainja | Malawi’s two leading telecommunication companies, Airtel Malawi and Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM), have reduced data prices in recent weeks. In a July 30, 2020 statement, Airtel Malawi announced new data bundle prices, with reductions of up to 40%. Only a month earlier in June 2020, Airtel Malawi published financial statements showing it recorded profits […] Read more

Appel à propositions | La Collaboration sur les Politiques Internationales des TIC pour l’Afrique orientale et australe (CIPESA) a le plaisir de lancer le troisième appel à propositions au Fonds africain pour les droits numériques (FADN), qui soutient le travail sur les droits numériques à travers le continent grâce à des subventions à réponse rapides […] Read more

By Edrine Wanyama | In March 2020, Ethiopia enacted the Hate Speech and Disinformation Prevention and Suppression Proclamation to address hate speech and disinformation, which have historically troubled the country. However, whereas government regulation is legitimate to control hate speech, Ethiopia’s new law poses a threat to freedom of expression and access to information online.  […] Read more

By Juliet Nanfuka | The pushback against internet shutdowns in Africa received a boost last month when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice ruled that the 2017 internet shutdown in Togo was illegal. This followed another win just over a year ago when, in January 2019, the Zimbabwe High […] Read more

Announcement | The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) is pleased to announce the nine recipients of its 2020 fellowship awards. Introduced in 2017, CIPESA’s fellowship programme aims to increase the quality, diversity and regularity of research and media reporting on ICT, democracy, and human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa.  The […] Read more

Press Release | Today, Global Partners Digital (GPD), ARTICLE 19, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), PROTEGE QV and  the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria jointly launched an interactive map to track and analyse disinformation laws, policies and patterns of enforcement across Sub-Saharan Africa. The map offers a […] Read more

Joint Letters | The African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA) has expressed deep concern about the use of cybercrimes legislation to restrict rights and freedoms in Kenya and Nigeria. In turn, the alliance has petitioned the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the […] Read more

By Juliet Nanfuka | Globally, in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID19), social media has played various roles, such as  filling information vacuums and providing channels for citizens to demand accountability and transparency. In Uganda, the government and other agencies have utilised social media as one of the avenues for disseminating information […] Read more

By Daniel Mwesigwa | Many African governments have employed heavy-handed methods in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. These measures, both offline and online, have undermined various rights and there are fears that they might be entrenched after the pandemic subsides. In response, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly  has  issued […] Read more