Emerging Issues in Digital Rights in Africa: A Discussion Paper for the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec) Coalition
Publications
10 February 2025
Even before the adoption of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Principles (AfDec) in 2014, the information and communication sector on the continent was already experiencing rapid technological advancements, driven by the growing demand for faster, more reliable, and interactive modes of communication. This evolution, while transformative, has also brought disruptions, necessitating that policymakers…
Ten Years of Building a Movement for Digital Rights in Africa: Impact of the African Declaration on Rights and Freedoms in Africa
Publications
10 February 2025
The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec), adopted in 2014, emerged as a critical response to the growing challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age. As the internet rapidly transformed societies across the African continent, concerns about privacy, security, censorship and digital inequality became increasingly prominent. This declaration, crafted by a coalition of civil…
How digital activism is helping African languages be part of a multilingual web
Opinions and commentary
11 November 2021
The United Nations declared 2022-2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, with the hope of creating a pathway for promoting mainstream linguistic diversity and multilingualism, including in the digital sphere. Currently, there are an estimated…
Digital rights feature prominently at African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 68th session
Event reports
20 May 2021
Digital rights featured prominently at the 68th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), held virtually from 14 April to 4 May 2021. The session also provided a platform to take stock of the general state of the human rights situation on the continent and brought together, for frank and constructive exchange, various ACHPR…
An ideal framework for the accountable use of personal data by law enforcement and state security agencies
Opinions and commentary
14 April 2021
The world is increasingly becoming digitised, with a significant amount of personal data being collected, stored and mined by different public and private sector players, in the various countries and communities, for one purpose or the other. Digitisation has increased efficiency of services and enhanced customer experiences of the same, as service providers take advantage of data-driven customer insights to…
The impact of COVID-19 on digital rights in Africa
Publications
24 February 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.
The articles were commissioned by the…