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In the heart of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 14 to 19 November 2024, the African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) became a melting pot of ideas, collaboration and strategy, bringing together change makers from across the continent. This was not merely a conference; it was an unparalleled learning and networking opportunity that brought together stakeholders from over 16 African countries. The participants were as diverse as the continent itself, with voices from civil society, the technical community, academia, government, media, the private sector, and even members of parliament āˆ’ā€¦ Read more

When I think of the Africa School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG), I see more than simply an event: I see a turning point moment. It was more than just a programme, it was an opportunity for me to grow, connect, and refine my role in the realm of internet governance.

As a Pan-African Youth Ambassador for Internet Governance (PAYAIG) and an advocate for digital inclusiveness, AfriSIG provided the ideal forum for me to dive more deeper into the convergence of technology, policy and activism. It was more than simply a learning experience, it was a platform for me to elevate my voiceā€¦ Read more

This year, I had the privilege of participating in the African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG2024) as a fellow. AfriSIG is a unique platform that brings together stakeholders across Africa to explore and tackle some of the continentā€™s most pressing internet governance challenges.

AfriSIG 2024 brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, and the discussions were nothing short of amazing. We discussed:

  • Data governance and the complex landscape of digital trade and data governance: Exploring the African Continentalā€¦ Read more

The world has truly become a global village, interconnected by digital technologies and the internet. As new technologies reshape our globe, Africa finds itself at the heart of an evolving digital transformation. This shift highlights the critical need for robust data governance as the continent embraces its digital economy aspirations.

In November 2024, I had the privilege of participating in the African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG24) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Organised by the Association for Progressive Communications (ā€¦ Read more

Introduction

From 14 to 19 November 2024, I had the incredible privilege of attending the 12th African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG24) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This immersive experience brought together an inspiring group of professionals from across Africa and beyond, representing civil society, government, academia, business and the technical community. Together, we engaged in thought-provoking conversations about Africaā€™s digital future, diving into topics like internet governance, data protection, cybersecurity, and theā€¦ Read more

In the cool embrace of November, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, played host to the 12th African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG24) from 14 to 19 November 2024. Against the city's unique high altitude and cultural richness, AfriSIG24 brought together passionate voices from across the continent, offering a transformative platform for dialogue, learning and collaboration on Africaā€™s digital future. Organised by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), this prestigiousā€¦ Read more

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) defines internet governance as the development and application by governments, the private sector and civil society of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the internet.1 The internet is a network of autonomous networks of computing devices, which share the same core protocols enabling them to interoperate regardless of the endpoint applications and devices.2

Governance, most simply defined, is a form of control to ensure organisations, communities or societiesā€¦ Read more

Negative.

Thatā€™s the ultimate effect in one word!

Social media taxes are taxes charged for the use of social media platforms. We have seen their implementation in a few African countries, including Uganda ($0.05 per day), Tanzania ($0.05) and, for a brief time, Benin. Similar taxes have also been proposed in Zambia ($0.03). The motivations behind this policy are multiple and layered; some governments are attempting to silence their opposition and those who support them, while others are using this tax as a way to make money.

What does this doā€¦ Read more

What is the internet we want? This was a question posed by one of the panels at the 7th African Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), held from the 4-6 November 2018 in Khartoum, Sudan. The question is increasingly important as the development of cybercrimes and cybersecurity legislation becomes a priority for many African governments. The 2014 African Union Convention on Cyberspace Security and Protection of Personal Data or ā€œMalabo Conventionā€ represents political commitment by African states to take measures on a range of issues, including cybercrime. While ratification of the conventionā€¦ Read more

In 2014, the African Union Commission (AUC) adopted the Malabo Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection in order to provide fundamental principles and guidelines, ensure the effective protection of personal data and create a safe digital environment for citizens as well as protect individualsā€™ online data and privacy.

However, unlike the European Unionā€™s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the African Union (AU) Convention is not automaticallyā€¦ Read more