Research

Compulsory e-learning in Namibia’s public schools: A commendable idea marred by the digital divide?
Compulsory e-learning in Namibia’s public schools: A commendable idea marred by the digital divide? 24 June 2020 Nashilongo Gervasius

Cracks within the Namibian education system have been exposed by COVID-19, and the detrimental effects they pose to the right to development and access to knowledge, as set out in Principle 7 of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms, have increasingly become apparent.

COVID-19 exposes the damage of the ex-regime’s empowerment policy on ICTs and the impact of US sanctions against Sudan
COVID-19 exposes the damage of the ex-regime’s empowerment policy on ICTs and the impact of US sanctions against Sudan 24 June 2020 Wala Mohammed

For decades, the internet has not reached all areas in Sudan proving the lack of real governmental effort to implement the principles of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms. 

The  shrinking of the digital space during the COVID-19 pandemic: Movement building and internet governance in North Africa
The shrinking of the digital space during the COVID-19 pandemic: Movement building and internet governance in North Africa 23 June 2020 Sodfa Daaji and Rim Menia

The analysis of the sphere of movement building and internet governance in North Africa leads inevitably to assess the shrinking of digital space and online mobilisation during the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.

Women face internet access challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda
Women face internet access challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda 23 June 2020 Peace Oliver Amuge and Sandra Aceng

This article analyses the challenge of internet access faced by women and other marginalised groups such as persons with disabilities in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The gender digital divide and COVID-19: Towards feminist internet regulations in southern Africa
The gender digital divide and COVID-19: Towards feminist internet regulations in southern Africa 23 June 2020 Tina Power

The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms and the Feminist Principles of the Internet advocate for an internet that is accessible, available, useable and affordable to all persons, without discrimination. Realising these principles has become increasingly urgent in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Data protection in Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic: Old problems, new challenges and multistakeholder solutions
Data protection in Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic: Old problems, new challenges and multistakeholder solutions 15 June 2020 Tomiwa Ilori

Data protection in Africa can still be described to be in its nascent stage. Most African states do not have a data protection law. This paper by Tomiwa Ilori considers the status of data protection in Africa and the impact of public emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic on data protection in Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa and Mauritius.

Can the social contract theory justify data rights violations? A review of South Africa's contact tracing regulations
Can the social contract theory justify data rights violations? A review of South Africa's contact tracing regulations 13 June 2020 Rumbidzai Matamba and Chenai Chair

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a need for solutions to “flatten the curve”. This essay by Rumbidzai Matamba and Chenai Chair employs the use of the South African government’s contact tracing initiatives to assess whether the social contract theory can be employed as a tool to justify privacy violations for public health.

"The forgotten constituency": Making a case for digital rights for prisoners in Zimbabwe during and beyond COVID-19
"The forgotten constituency": Making a case for digital rights for prisoners in Zimbabwe during and beyond COVID-19 13 June 2020 David Makwerere

In Zimbabwe, just like in many other parts of the world, prison is highly resented by society. This paper by David Makwerere tackles this largely unexplored subject on digital rights for prisoners.

Digital divisions: COVID-19 policy and practice and the digital divide in Africa
Digital divisions: COVID-19 policy and practice and the digital divide in Africa 12 June 2020 Charley Lewis

The sudden and dramatic advent of the COVID-19 global pandemic caught the world by surprise and left many floundering for responses, none more so than those in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector: the policy makers, regulators and internet and other ICT service providers.

Data protection in the age of technology-based disease surveillance
Data protection in the age of technology-based disease surveillance 11 June 2020 Amanda Manyame

This paper by Amanda Manyame explores the adequacy of the COVID-19 regulations enacted in South Africa as they pertain to protection of the personal and health data being collected in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19.

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