Rights advocates warn of digital speech restrictions in Africa

The number of internet users in Africa has risen to nearly 650 million from approximately 450 million a decade ago. During the August episode of Africanews Debates, Julie Owono, the Executive Director of Internet Sans Frontières, warned that legislation designed for national security and cybercrime prevention is being used to prosecute online speech.

Owono noted that as citizens use digital platforms to engage in public debate and hold leaders accountable, governments are expanding their legal powers to monitor and limit online activity. She highlighted specific legal frameworks in Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon that allow for the criminalization of online criticism or the publication of unproven information.

In Cameroon, the arrest of activist Junior Ngombe followed a TikTok livestream where he encouraged citizens to participate in the 2025 presidential election. Similarly, Tanzania has seen internet restrictions and the arrest of critics during times of political tension. Owono argued that these instances reflect a broader pattern of using security laws to target political expression.

Technology companies also play a role in shaping digital speech. Owono stated that major firms often comply with government requests to restrict accounts or remove content. She cited the temporary restriction of Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai's Meta accounts following a request linked to Tanzanian authorities as an example of this trend.

To address these issues, Owono suggested that companies should assess government requests based on the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality. She also called on African policymakers to better understand digital platforms by engaging directly with the technology companies that develop them.

While the discussion focused on Africa, Owono noted that the decline in internet freedom is a global phenomenon. She referenced Freedom House reports on declining digital freedoms and mentioned efforts by governments, such as the UK's attempt to access encrypted iCloud data, as examples of how security measures can erode fundamental rights.