Freedom of expression

A comic strip that demonstrates the challenges women face online, developed by our member Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet).

Disruptions to the internet and social media applications have emerged as a common and growing trend of digital repression, especially in authoritarian countries in Africa. Since 2019, numerous countries in the region have either restricted or fully blocked access to the internet.

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred on existing debates and developments on privacy, government surveillance and data monetisation. But what do all these mean for the Asia-Pacific, the region where most of the world’s population lives but whose voices are often overlooked in global tech discourse?

The Indian government has taken various measures that violate free expression and privacy rights in response to growing international criticism of its handling of the farmers protests, targeting critics of the authorities and supporters of the protests.

7amleh - The Arab Center for Social Media Advancement has announced the opening of registration for the fifth edition of the Palestine Digital Activism Forum, which will take place online this year, between 29 March and April 1.

The African Digital Rights Network has published the first study to compare the digital rights landscapes of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and Cameroon.

APC welcomes the call of the Special Rapporteur to reflect on the impacts of disinformation on the issues pertaining to her mandate and appreciates the opportunity to provide input for the annual thematic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council at its 47th session in June 2021.

This publication is a compilation of 19 articles by African researchers, academics, journalists and human and digital rights activists on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital rights in Africa.