Paradigm Initiative Nigeria releases first edition of report

Tomiwa Ilori, PIN's Program Assistant (ICT Policy), stated that “The year 2016 has shaped up to be the year of Internet shutdowns in Africa... in addition to an increasing number of legislations and policies that violate digital rights; and arrests of numerous bloggers, journalists and citizens who exercised their right to freedom of opinion and expression online.”

A major trend in recent times has seen African governments order telecom operators to increase prices or as most recently seen in Gambia, shut the populace off from access to the internet.

At best, this shows that private businesses still act at the behest of governments on the continent whe digital rights are involved.

According to Babatunde Okunoye, a member of the report's team, “2016, however, was not just about African governments’ actions to constrain Internet freedom. It was also very much about how citizens fought back... (they) increasingly led efforts that challenged the action of their governments.”

Oluwaseun Ajayi, a Google Policy Fellow resident at PIN and another team member, stated that: “This report, which focuses on the year 2016, recognises the importance of citizen vigilance and lawful action against the constraining of Internet freedom across the continent”

It beams the light on the system of regulation, highlights incidents around breached internet freedom and the telecommunications space in Africa.

This report, according to Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, is part of the organisation’s work towards the creation of awareness about, and advocacy for, digital rights in Africa.

“As we create awareness on the threat to Internet freedom and provide information on what can be done to improve digital rights across African countries, PIN leads advocacy efforts for digital rights of citizens and other stakeholders” said ‘Gbenga Sesan, PIN Executive Director.

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The Initiative provides digital rights training for media, advocates and civil society organisations and hosts the annual Internet Freedom Forum where various stakeholders discuss prevailing issues.

‘Gbenga believes that active citizens and civil society constrain the tendency of those who abuse authority to violate digital rights. “Or, at least, the problem gets attention and forces either denial or in some cases, reversal of violations.”, he says.

He continued: “With at least 10 countries imposing Internet or Internet application shutdowns, unfortunately, Africa was the hotbed for violations to digital rights... Those who constrain Internet freedoms should be seen as adversaries of development – something Africa needs in a hurry.