Internet Freedom

The duopolistic Mastercard and Visa payment processor hegemony poses a huge threat to the internet, while over the last few years, the dangers of the power held by Big Tech and governments have been under scrutiny - they shouldn't be the only ones.

As the recent Uganda elections example affirms, digital technologies are not going anywhere, and unless we act now, they will continue to be used by repressive governments and other actors to not only maintain the status quo but also erode the gains being made by people to challenge this.

Since Friday, 5 March 2021, Senegal has experienced an internet and social media shutdown. This is amidst ongoing protests by citizens in the West African country.

After 5 days of no internet access since the eve of elections, Uganda's government has announced that they have switched the internet back on after the incumbent Yoweri Museveni was announced as the winner. However, social media access appears to still be a problem.

Internet is a ‘lifeline not a luxury’ in the COVID-19 era. Strong policies on broadband infrastructure and access are needed to drive down prices

The first case of Internet shutdown in sub-Saharan Africa was in Guinea in 2007. In the intervening years, light has been shone on the devastating impact of shutdowns across Africa.

Internet shutdowns are not unusual in Ethiopia. Since 2016 the internet has been shut down at least six times. In 2019 alone, Ethiopia experienced three major internet disruptions across the country.