Digital inclusion

Unwanted Witness: Internet barriers constrain the work of Ugandan human rights defenders amidst COVID-19 pandemic
Unwanted Witness: Internet barriers constrain the work of Ugandan human rights defenders amidst COVID-19 pandemic 20 April 2020 Unwanted Witness

With the COVID-19 pandemic, people everywhere are asked to cease physical interactions and the internet has become the lifeline for the work of human rights defenders currently working from home. What does this mean in Uganda, a country with low internet access?

DEF: We need free talk time and internet during COVID-19
DEF: We need free talk time and internet during COVID-19 17 April 2020 Osama Manzar for DEF

Digital Empowerment Foundation argues that free talk time and internet are crucial to help India's migrant works during the pandemic. 

Civil society comments on Kenya's "Draft Dynamic Spectrum Access Framework for Authorisation of the Use of TV White Spaces"
Civil society comments on Kenya's "Draft Dynamic Spectrum Access Framework for Authorisation of the Use of TV White Spaces" 17 April 2020 Various

In March 2020, the Communications Authority of Kenya invited comments on the Draft Dynamic Spectrum Access Framework for Authorisation of the Use of TV White Spaces. Five civil society organisations presented their comments with the common objective to help create a quality and affordable telecommunications service to all Kenyans, especially those in rural and underserved areas.

DEF releases COVID-19 digital emergency relief programme
DEF releases COVID-19 digital emergency relief programme 17 April 2020 Digital Empowerment Foundation

This is a compilation of articles and other resources and initiatives featured by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), an APC member organisation, in their latest newsletter.

The resilience of Kenya’s internet freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic
The resilience of Kenya’s internet freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic 15 April 2020 Liz Orembo for KICTANet

There is a need to balance the use of technology with human rights in response to the pandemic. Otherwise, we might risk losing the rights and freedoms we had steadily gained over many years.

CIPESA: Why access to information on COVID-19 is crucial to persons with disabilities in Africa
CIPESA: Why access to information on COVID-19 is crucial to persons with disabilities in Africa 14 April 2020 Paul Kimumwe for CIPESA

While COVID-19 continues to ravage the world, there is growing concern that critical messages about the disease that are disseminated by health authorities, telecom companies, and broadcasters are not reaching persons with visual and hearing impairments.

KICTANet submission on technology-related solutions to COVID-19
KICTANet submission on technology-related solutions to COVID-19 13 April 2020 Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet)

Following consultation with its stakeholders, the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) prepared this submission to the Kenyan Senate COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee, with a series of recommendations related to ICT solutions to confront the pandemic.

Inside the Digital Society: Another way to look at access and equality?
Inside the Digital Society: Another way to look at access and equality? 13 April 2020 David Souter

My last four blogs discussed the impact of the current virus crisis on the digital society. I’m moving for the next few weeks to other subjects, but it’s worth noting that the crisis will have an impact on every aspect of the digital society.

Bottom-up Connectivity Strategies: Technical and operational strategies in community networks
Bottom-up Connectivity Strategies: Technical and operational strategies in community networks 09 April 2020

The research report "Bottom-up Connectivity Strategies: Community-led small-scale telecommunication infrastructure networks in the global South" explores the benefits of, and challenges facing, projects of this kind. This week we look at the various technical and operational strategies adopted.

Zenzeleni and Tunapanda community networks respond to COVID-19 in Africa
Zenzeleni and Tunapanda community networks respond to COVID-19 in Africa 08 April 2020 APCNews

In a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that people are able to obtain information that will help them stay safe and aware of an evolving situation, and initiatives like these are crucial for reducing the traditional barriers to information that prevent global access.

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