Policy, Advocacy Seek to Safeguard Africa's Internet Access
Originally published in The Yuan on May 22, 2023, as "Policy, advocacy seek to safeguard Africa's internet access." Republished here by the author from the original draft. Read the archived original.
Over the past three years, Africa has seen several internet blackouts in different areas of the continent for various reasons. A report has shown that 1 in 4 Africans were affected by these blackouts in 2022, also showing that Africa is the second most intensive continent for internet censorship after Asia. In 2022, in addition to the multi-year restrictions, five African countries censored the internet 13 times.
While living in the age of AI, it's essential that we point out how internet blackouts can hinder the growth of various sectors and make it difficult or impossible for people to access the internet.
We will be exploring the different internet blackouts occurring and that have occurred in Africa, the reasons behind these blackouts, and the impact they can have on the overall growth of artificial intelligence and technology in the continent.
Types of Internet Blackouts in Africa
There are different blackouts that occur in Africa, which include:
- Total internet shutdowns: This is when people lose complete access to the internet, usually by the government or other entities such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or cybersecurity threats.
- Social media shutdowns: This is when governments block access to social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp. This blackout is often used to quell the effects of protests or handle political unrest.
- Bandwidth throttling: When internet speeds are deliberately slowed down, making it difficult to access certain websites and online services. This sort of blackout is often used during elections to limit access to information and prevent the spread of fake news.
Reasons for Internet Blackouts in Africa
The reasons for internet blackouts may vary, but they are typically linked to political, social and economic factors. The government often uses these blackouts to control the spread of information, suppress protests and maintain their grip on power.
In many cases, they are used to suppress protest efforts, as was seen in 2017 when the Cameroonian government shut down the internet for 94 days in the English-speaking regions of the country as a response to protests by the Anglophone minority, or in Nigeria, where the Twitter shutdown followed the removal of the president's tweet, which Twitter said was a breach of the platform's rules, and the EndSARS protests aimed at ending police brutality in the country. This ban lasted from June 2021 into January 2022.
Impact of Internet Blackouts on AI Development in Africa and Technology in General
However, these bans can have negative consequences on the economy and development of countries. Take, for example, Nigeria, which lost $82.7m to internet shutdowns in 2022. Ethiopia is the most affected nation this year to date, losing $164.3 million, and Mauritania (Africa's 11th largest country, 5th in the rankings) lost $9.6 billion according to a report from Top 10 VPN. These negative consequences will definitely hamper the growth of the economy and technology.
The AI industry across the world and in Africa is rapidly evolving and has the potential to drive significant growth and expansion in the continent. However, these internet blackouts hinder that development, making it difficult for startups and companies to access the tools, resources and infrastructure they require to innovate. These blackouts also affect industries such as e-commerce, online education and telemedicine.
Policies and Advocacy Efforts to Protect Internet Access in Africa
Governments, civil society organizations, and the international community have a role to play in protecting internet access in Africa. Some existing policies advocated for internet access and protected it from arbitrary shutdowns.
Policies:
- African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms (AfDec): AfDec was developed in 2013 in response to the increasing access of Africans to the internet. This framework provides recommendations for policy and legislative processes on internet rights, freedoms and governance in Africa, one of these frameworks being access and affordability of the internet without discrimination.
- The African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection: This treaty includes provisions requiring governments to protect their citizens' right to access the internet and ensure that restrictions on the right are necessary and proportionate.
- The Digital Rights and Freedom Bill (Nigeria): This bill seeks to protect Nigeria's internet users from infringement of their fundamental freedoms and promote data privacy. This bill also includes provisions prohibiting the government from shutting down the internet except in most exceptional circumstances.
Civil society organizations and international bodies:
- Access Now (#KeepItOn): An international human rights organisation that launched the KeepItOn campaign in collaboration with over 300 organisations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns. This campaign has been able to mobilise activists and organisations to document and report on internet shutdowns in Africa.
- Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI): This is a coalition of public and private sectors that work to reduce the cost of internet access in developing countries with a presence in Africa, advocating for policies and regulations that promote affordable internet access.
- OpenNet Africa: A research and advocacy organisation that promotes open access to information and communication technologies in Africa, while promoting open and affordable internet access policies.
- Paradigm Initiative: This social enterprise promotes digital rights, digital inclusion and ICT policies in Africa. They are involved in efforts to improve internet access and affordability in Africa.
Governments: According to Freedom House's Index, Ethiopia and Egypt are ranked last in internet freedom among African countries, while South Africa and Kenya rank first. Very few African countries have made provisions for internet freedom or digital privacy and data protection. This is a cause of concern as internet access, albeit not considered a human right, is still closely linked to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
Private sector: Companies like MTN, Africa's largest telecommunications company, have advocated for policies to promote internet access and are continuing to invest in the continent's telecommunications sector, expanding network coverage across the continent. Companies like Meta have also launched programs such as Free Basics to provide a limited version of Facebook accessible in African countries, providing users access to communication tools, health information, education resources and other low-bandwidth services.
Conclusion
Internet blackouts have negative consequences on the economy and development in Africa, particularly the growth and adoption of AI. Governments need to recognize the importance of internet access and adopt policies and regulations that protect it from arbitrary shutdowns. Civil society organizations, activists and international organisations need to continue to advocate for internet freedom and hold governments accountable for their actions.
Protecting internet access in Africa will surely unlock the continent's full potential and drive significant economic growth and innovation in the age of AI.
