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03Nov

African Perspectives on Operationalising UNESCO’s Guidelines for Regulating Digital Platforms

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By Juliet Nanfuka |

Across the world, governments are introducing laws to regulate online content. Many of these laws contain provisions that may lead to the increasing removal of legitimate expression as opposed to harmful and illegal content. In turn, the global community continues to grapple with the question of how harmful online content should best be moderated in a manner that does not undermine citizens’ right of access to information and freedom of expression.

On September 28, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held a high-level panel discussion on unpacking African perspectives on the operationalisation of UNESCO’s Guidelines for regulating digital platforms. The session was among the discussions held at the 2023 edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) which assembled organisations from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on reigning concerns in the internet governance and digital rights landscape.

The UNESCO Guidelines (in full referred to as Guidelines for regulating digital platforms: a multistakeholder approach to safeguarding freedom of expression and access to information) aim to safeguard  freedom  of  expression,  access  to information,  and  other  human  rights in the context of the development and implementation of digital platform regulatory  processes. The guidelines outline rights-respecting regulatory processes and promote risk   and system-based processes for content moderation and curation. Following a series of multistakeholder consultations and contributions that started in September 2022 the guidelines have been under review with a launch of the final document yet to be announced. 

The panel featured at FIFAfrica comprised John Bosco Mayiga, Programme Specialist at UNESCO, who moderated the discussion, Hon. Neema Lugangira, Chairperson of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG), Grace Githaiga, Convenor of the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), Dr. Simon-Peter Kafui Aheto from the University of Ghana, and Samira Danburam, New Media and Security Manager at the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Mayiga noted that there are growing shared concerns by many actors in the digital society on how to better harness the benefits of information platforms while also addressing the challenges that come with it. “There is much to gain with digital transformation. However, amidst hate speech and disinformation, there is also much to lose,” he said.  “How do we move forward leveraging the advantages of the platforms, but also take care of the excesses that happen to be part and parcel of platforms?”

Githaiga noted that there are no fast and easy answers in dealing with the current challenges of content moderation. She further noted that the guidelines will be invaluable in serving as a basis for individual countries, especially as different countries are at different levels of digital regulation while socio-cultural contexts also vary across borders. 

Indeed, various countries, particularly in Africa, are still grappling with navigating issues such as hate speech, disinformation, protecting legitimate online freedom of expression, content moderation, and data privacy. Dr. Kafui-Aheto added that the Internet Universality Indicators (IUI’s) are a great complementary tool to the guidelines. He also stressed that digital literacy, including on regulatory frameworks, is fundamental in the realisation and utilisation of the indicators and the UNESCO guidelines by more stakeholders. 

The speakers discussed the potential paths that the operationalisation of the guidelines in Africa could take. There was consensus amongst panelists on the need to create regional and national multi-stakeholder networks that enable the active participation of diverse groups in the implementation of digital platform regulation. This consensus was reached as the challenge of ensuring that online platforms serve as places where individuals can seek factual information but without fear was a recurring theme across FIFAfrica. 

Ultimately, the session stressed that the creation of an internet of trust cannot be the preserve of any particular group however specialised they are; it should be a collaborative effort that includes all stake-holders.

The guidelines are designed to inform regulatory processes under development or review for digital platforms, in a manner that is consistent with international human rights standards. According to UNESCO, the Guidelines may serve as a resource for policymakers in identifying legitimate objectives, human rights principles, and inclusive and participatory processes that could be considered in policymaking. The guidelines could also inform the policies and practices of digital platforms; and provide an advocacy and accountability tool for civil society.

30Oct

Social Media 4 Peace: An Initiative to Tackle the Quagmire Of Content Moderation

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By Juliet Nanfuka |

Content moderation has emerged as a critical global concern in the digital age. In Africa, coinciding with increasing digital penetration and digitalisation, along with problematic platform responses to harmful content and retrogressive national legislation, the demand for robust and rights-respecting content moderation has reached a new level of urgency. 

Online content platforms and governments are increasingly getting caught in a contentious struggle on how to address content moderation, especially as online hate speech and disinformation become more pervasive. These vices regularly seep into the real world, undermining human rights, social cohesion, democracy, and peace. They have also corroded public discourse and fragmented societies, with marginalised communities often bearing some of the gravest  consequences. 

The Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) project run by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was established to strengthen the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content spread online, in particular hate speech inciting violence, while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace through digital technologies, notably social media. The project was piloted in four countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Indonesia, and Kenya.

At the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) held in Tanzania in September 2023, UNESCO hosted a session where panellists interrogated the role of a multi-stakeholder coalition in addressing gaps in content moderation with a focus on Kenya. The session highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation, accountability models, and safety by design to address online harmful content, particularly disinformation and hate speech in Africa. 

In March 2023, as a product of the SM4P, UNESCO in partnership with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) launched the National Coalition on Freedom of Expression and Content Moderation in Kenya. The formation of the coalition, whose membership has grown to include various governmental, civil society and private sector entities, is a testament to the need for content moderation efforts based on broader multi-stakeholder collaboration. 

As such, the coalition provided a learning model for the participants at FIFAfrica, who included legislators, regulators, civil society activists and policy makers, whose countries are grappling with establishing effective and rights-based content moderation mechanisms. The session explored good practices from the SM4P project in Kenya for possible replication of the model coalition across African countries. Discussions largely centred on issues around content moderation challenges and opportunities for addressing these issues in the region.

Online content moderation has presented a new regulatory challenge for governments and technology companies. Striking a balance between safeguarding freedom of expression and curtailing harmful and illegal content has presented a challenge especially as such decisions have largely fallen into the remit of platforms, and state actors have often criticised platforms’ content moderation practices. 

This has resulted in governments and platforms coming to loggerheads as was witnessed during the 2021 Uganda elections. Six days before the election, Meta blocked various accounts and removed content for what it termed as “coordinated inauthentic behavior”. Most of the accounts affected were related to pro-ruling party narratives or had links to the ruling party. In response, the Uganda government blocked social media before blocking access to the entire internet. Nigeria similarly suspended Twitter in June 2021 for deleting a post made from the president’s account.

Social media companies are taking various measures to curb such content, including by using artificial intelligence tools, employing human content moderators, collaborating with fact-checking organisations and trusted partner organisations that identify false and harmful content, and relying on user reports of harmful and illegal content. However, these measures by the platforms are often criticised as inadequate. 

On the other hand, some African governments were also criticised for enacting laws and issuing directives that undermine citizens’ fundamental rights, under the guise of combating harmful content.  

Indeed, speaking at the 2023 edition of FIFAfrica, Felicia Anthonio, #KeepItOn Campaign Manager at Access Now, stated that weaknesses in content moderation are often cited by some governments that shut down the internet. She noted that governments justify shutting down internet access as a tool to control harmful content amidst concerns of hate speech, disinformation, and incitement of violence. This was reaffirmed by Thobekile Matimbe from Paradigm Initiative who noted that “content moderation is a delicate test of speech”, stressing that if content moderation is not balanced against freedom of expression and access to information, it would result in violation of fundamental human rights. Beyond governments and social media companies, other stakeholders need to step up efforts to combat harmful content and advocate for balanced content moderation policies. For instance, speakers at the FIFAfrica session were unanimous that civil society organisations, academic institutions, and media regulators need to enhance digital media literacy and increase collaborative efforts. Further, they stressed the need for these stakeholders to regularly conduct research to underpin evidence-based advocacy, and to support the development of human rights-centered strategies in content moderation.

12Oct

Digital Rights Hub of African Civil Society Organisations

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By Edrine Wanyama |

Since 2016, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has been partnering with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) to improve African digital civic spaces. 

At the September  Forum on internet Freedoms in Africa, CIPESA and ICNL convened a digital rights hub in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania aimed at promoting the digital civic space in Africa. The hub brought together civil society organisations (CSOs) representatives from 10 African countries. 

Across the continent, there is increased demand for democratic rule yet civic spaces continue to be undermined by state autocracy which still prevails in at least half the continent.  Rights and freedoms such as assembly, association, access to information and data privacy in the online space continue to be curtailed. This is despite that 2016  UN Human Rights Council Resolution  that called for the protection of rights afforded offline, to be applied in equal measure online.

The hub  held discussions on the relationship between digital civic space and its importance to CSOs and the internet infrastructure governance. 

Further insights were drawn from developments on artificial intelligence, surveillance, privacy rights, network disruptions, online content moderation, and the burgeoning concerns on  disinformation and its impact on the digital society. 

The hub concluded by defining the  role of CSOs in protecting the digital civic space through effective advocacy strategies such as litigation, legal analysis and the law making process, capacity building of key stakeholders including parliamentarians and making use of regional human rights monitoring mechanisms such as the United Nations Human Rights Council mechanisms like Universal Periodic Review and Special Rapporteurs and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights monitoring mechanisms were enumerated.  

The emerging statement from the convening can be accessed here

21Sep

Reflecting on the State of Internet Freedom in Africa Reports

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 By CIPESA Writer |

As we approach the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica23), we’re excited to share vital insights about a cornerstone of the event. Our flagship annual ‘State of Internet Freedom in Africa Report’ illuminates trends in internet freedom across Africa. 

Since its inaugural edition in 2014, we’ve published a series regional reports and numerous country-specific analyses, solidifying the impact and influence of the report in the field.

The State of Internet Freedom in Africa has come serve as a reference point for a diverse array of stakeholders, both governmental and non-governmental, offering essential context and generating robust evidence to inform policy-making and practice in the ICT sector. Additionally, it amplifies awareness regarding internet freedom matters on the continent, sparking meaningful dialogues among digital rights advocates throughout Africa.

Below is a quick summary of what the reports have covered over the years. 

Documenting the State of Internet Freedom in Africa 

2022 – The Rise of Biometric Surveillance: The report highlights the increasing risks in the use of biometric technologies by governments for surveillance and social control in Africa. The report raises concern that in the absence of adequate safeguards, biometric technologies such as facial recognition, fingerprinting, and iris scanning could be abused to monitor citizens’ activities, track their movements, and limit their freedoms.
2021 – Effects of State Surveillance on Democratic Participation in Africa: The report documents how surveillance practices are becoming more pervasive in Africa, with governments using advanced technologies to monitor citizens’ online activities and infringing on their right to privacy. These practices have had a chilling effect on freedom of expression, association, and assembly, and limited opportunities for civic participation and engagement.
2020 – Resetting Digital Rights Amidst the Covid-19 Fallout: The report focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital rights and freedoms in Africa. It also highlights how the pandemic led to an increase in internet censorship, surveillance, and online violence against women, as well as the negative impact of internet shutdowns on access to information and public health messaging.
2019 – Mapping Trends in Government Internet Controls 1999-2019: The report provides an overview of the evolution of government internet controls in Africa over the past two decades. It highlights how African governments have increasingly adopted internet censorship and surveillance practices, implementing internet disruptions and arresting online activists, bloggers and journalists.
2018 – Privacy and Data Protection in the Digital Era: Challenges and Trends in Africa: The report highlights how African countries are lagging behind other regions in enacting data protection laws and regulations. It also highlights the increased risks of data breaches and other privacy violations and the impact on internet freedom.
2017 – Intermediaries’ Role in Advancing Internet Freedom in Africa: Challenges and Prospects: The report provides an overview of the role of intermediaries, such as internet service providers (ISPs) and social media platforms, in promoting internet freedom in Africa. It also highlights how African governments censor and control online content and the challenges faced by intermediaries in balancing their obligations under legal and regulatory frameworks and promoting internet freedom.
2016 – Case Studies from Select Countries on Strategies African Governments Use to Stifle Citizens’ Digital Rights: The report provides an overview of the various strategies employed by African governments to restrict citizens’ digital rights and examines case studies from a number of African countries, highlighting specific incidents of internet censorship, surveillance, and the persecution of online activists and journalists.
2015 – Survey on Access, Privacy and Security Online: The report surveyed internet users in six African countries and highlights the challenges that they face in accessing the internet, protecting their privacy and security online, and accessing information. It also examines the role of governments in regulating the internet and calls for greater transparency and accountability in their policies and practices.
2014 – An Investigation into the Policies and Practices Defining Internet Freedom in East Africa: The report provided an analysis of the policies and practices of governments and Internet service providers in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. It also identified the key challenges facing internet users in these countries, such as censorship, surveillance, and online harassment.

What would you like future reports to explore? Share your thoughts on social media and tag us (@cipesaug). Remember to use the hashtag #InternetFreedomAfrica and/or #FIFAfrica23!

Visit our extensive report library here.

Media Support

Send media queries to: [email protected]

  • Excited to be part of #FIFAfrica23 by @cipesaug, where we’ll dive into pressing issues shaping and informing #InternetFreedomAfrica. Together, we can forge a path towards a more open and inclusive digital landscape. See you there! www.internetfreedom.africa 
  • Calling all champions of internet freedom! #FIFAfrica23 is THE event to be at. Let’s amplify our collective voice for a free and open internet in Africa. Can’t wait to connect with you all!  #InternetFreedomAfrica @cipesaug
  • Thrilled to attend #FIFAfrica23 and discuss how we can advance digital rights in Africa. As a community, we’ll drive change, promote inclusivity, and foster innovation. See you at the forefront of this vital conversation online and offline! #InternetFreedomAfrica @cipesaug

Media Support. Send media queries to: [email protected]

19Sep

Why Tanzania for the 2023 Edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa? 

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By CIPESA Writer |

The tenth edition of the annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica23) is just under ten days away. The Collaboration in International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) will this year alongside the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology of the United Republic of Tanzania host this special edition of FIFAfrica23 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This is in line with the country’s progressive shift to advance digitalisation for sustainable development. 

As at December 2022, Tanzania had over 60 million phone subscriptions, translating into a penetration rate of 98%, an estimated 31.1 million internet connections, and 40.9 million registered mobile money accounts. The national Development Plan and Tanzania Development Vision 2025 prioritise the digital economy and outline various intervention areas for accelerating broadband penetration, access, innovation, eServices and local content development, among others. Further, the National ICT Policy, 2016 recognises that ICT is central to social and economic transformation. 

Tanzania outperforms many other African countries in developing locally relevant mobile content and applications, including content in local languages. Tanzania was among the six African countries eligible to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP) at its launch back in 2011. Whereas the country later withdrew from the Partnership, its OGP Action Plans drawn up at the time, reflected Tanzania’s commitment to the four pillars of transparency, accountability, citizens’ participation, and technology and innovation. Indeed, among the reasons cited for the withdrawal from the OGP was its membership of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) whose objectives were similar to those of the OGP.

Notable government initiatives include the Tanzania National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) and the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) through which connectivity and infrastructure has been extended countrywide including in key sectors – education, health and gender equality. The Digital Tanzania Programme is also underway with  the aim to ​​”increase access to affordable, high quality internet services for government, businesses and citizens, and to improve the governments’ capacity to deliver digital public services”with three components: the Digital Ecosystem, Digital Connectivity, and Digital Government Platform and services. Meanwhile, the Data Protection and Privacy Bill tabled in 2014  was passed in November 2022.

Nonetheless, there have been concerns including a culture of secrecy among government officials, the cease of live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings and disruptions to social media and online communication platforms. There has also been problematic legislation such as the restrictions on access to information under Statistics Act of 2015 as amended; mandatory registration and accreditation of journalists as well as harsh penalties under the  Media Services Act, 2016;  and the Cybercrimes Act, 2015, which criminalises offences related to computer systems and ICT.

According to the Global Connectivity Index of 2020, Tanzania is ranked 78 out of 79 countries in internet affordability. The high cost of access locks several Tanzanians out of the digital society.  In July 2021, Tanzania introduced a new airtime levy which users pay to telecom operators as they top-up airtime. The airtime tax, together with a 17% excise duty, 18% Value Added Tax (VAT) and a levy on mobile money transactions pose significant threats to the country’s progress in digital and financial inclusion. 

Under the leadership of its first female President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, a proponent for civil rights and women’s rights,has undergone reforms aimed at enhancing the country’s civic space and digitalisation agenda. Notably, proposals to amend the Online Content Regulations 2020 which entrenched the licensing and taxation of bloggers, online discussion forums, radio and television webcasters, and repressed online speech, privacy and access to information. The amendments contain various  positive elements such as removal of some ambiguous specification of obligations of service providers, the reduction of licensing fees, annual and renewal fees, and certainty of definitions of  “online media content services” and “online content aggregators”.

The amendments also relieved internet café operators from a number of obligations, including installation of surveillance cameras; assignment of static public IP addresses to all computers used; keeping of proper service user register; and having mechanisms to filter access to prohibited contents which were hard for café operators to comply with. However, the regulations maintained that mainstream media licensees still require an Online Media Services Licence for simulcasting or re-publication of content through the internet.

As Tanzania navigates a path towards positioning itself as a progressive state, it presents a unique opportunity for learning and engagement on the future of technology in Africa for economic growth, civic participation, meaningful connectivity and human rights.

The main Forum event takes place on 28-29 September 2023 and is preceded by a series invite-only pre-events (26-27 September 2023) which entail workshops, trainings and strategic meetings.  See the event agenda and speakers!

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