internet shutdown
On 11 January, while researching the current wave of internet shutdowns in Africa, we contacted our Harare-based colleague Chief K.Masimba Biriwasha, coordinator of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms project, to get his insights. He responded three days later: "Sorry for the delay, I was experiencing outages myself. Zimbabwe is on shutdown." Throughout the African continent, where many APC members and partners are based, recent weeks have seen a fresh spate of internet sh...
Re: Internet shutdown in Zimbabwe Your Excellency Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Minister of Information and Communication Technology and Cyber Security We are writing to urgently request that you ensure the stability and openness of the internet in Zimbabwe. We have received reports that your government has shut down the internet. On behalf of the more than 170 organizations from over 60 countries that make up the #KeepitOn Coalition, we implore you to keep the internet on. Internet shutdowns har...
Re: Internet shutdown in Eastern Ethiopia Your Excellency, We are writing to urgently request that you ensure the stability and openness of the internet. We have received reports that your government has shut down the internet in Jijiga, Dire Dawa, and Harar cities in Ethiopia. On behalf of the more than 150 organizations from over 50 countries that make up the #KeepitOn Coalition, we implore ...
Internet shutdowns: A study of social impact in India is the second in the series of DEF’s efforts for advocacy against internet shutdowns. The previous research report, Anatomy of virtual curfews: Human rights vs national security, highlights the existing and emerging threats to fundamental rights and human rights on account of arbitrary, unnecessary, and disproportionate imposition of Inter...
APC member in the Philippines Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) expresses grave concern over the decision of the Philippine authorities to shut down cell sites during huge festivities. The organisation calls for transparency regarding the guidelines used by authorities before resorting to signal jamming. As advocates of human rights and communication rights, FMA believes that human rights...
A coalition of some 35 civil society organisations has written to several international bodies including the African Union and the United Nations Human Rights Council over the recent internet shutdown in Togo. Signatories to the letter include Paradigm Initiative, Reporters Without Borders, World Wide Web Foundation, Access Now, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), G...
The balance between state powers and rights of citizens is a symbol of democracy. With the advent of the internet, exercising free speech, expression, association and assembly have become much easier. It has not only made communication technology affordable but has also given a platform for self-expression, which was otherwise not available through traditional media. However, most countries bui...
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) notes with grave concern the restrictions on internet access – commonly known as internet shutdowns – ordered by the government of Cameroon. The restrictions, which have been in effect since 17 January 2017, have specifically targeted Anglophone regions of Cameroon, reportedly following protests against the marginalisation of Anglophone C...
APC has joined with other civil society organisations to send a letter calling on the government of The Gambia to ensure the stability and openness of the internet during the forthcoming elections on 1 December. "Elections represent the most critical moment in a democracy, and the internet enables free expression and the fulfillment of all human rights," the letter stresses. "However, we have r...
President Yahya Jammeh cc: Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) Gambia Permanent Mission to the United Nations African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 30 November 2016 Your Excellency, We are writing to urgently request that you ensure the stability and openness of the internet during the forthcoming elections in Gambia on December 1. Elections represent the most critic...
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