Internet blackouts in Africa
Internet blackouts in Africa have largely been examined through the prisms of human rights and economic development. This has resulted in highly negative assessments; Internet shutdowns have widely been branded as violations of the rights of African citizens, and the bane of economic development. H...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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UJ Press
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Digital Policy Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/dps/article/view/1149 |
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| _version_ | 1849710180742201344 |
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| author | Floribert Patrick C. Endong |
| author_facet | Floribert Patrick C. Endong |
| author_sort | Floribert Patrick C. Endong |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Internet blackouts in Africa have largely been examined through the prisms of human rights and economic development. This has resulted in highly negative assessments; Internet shutdowns have widely been branded as violations of the rights of African citizens, and the bane of economic development. However, while unarguably extreme, Internet blackouts are not necessarily unjustified or unwarranted. Even influential bodies such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recognise the need to shut down the Internet under certain circumstances. Governments often justify Internet shutdowns by citing principles or values that are valid in principle. These include protecting their sovereignty, combating ‘rascality’ among telecom operators, and maintaining peace and security. Given this, it is important to examine the extent to which Internet shutdowns in Africa have been justified, or whether they have been used to advance authoritarian rule. To this end, this study uses documentary analysis and critical observations to explore the morality of Internet blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa, and specifically whether or not the recent shutdowns in Cameroon and Nigeria have been justified.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc8ab5c14c284f9abbf748afb41d9fa7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2791-3597 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | UJ Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Policy Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc8ab5c14c284f9abbf748afb41d9fa72025-08-20T03:15:02ZengUJ PressDigital Policy Studies2791-35972022-05-011110.36615/dps.v1i1.1149Internet blackouts in AfricaFloribert Patrick C. Endong0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1893-3653University of Calabar Internet blackouts in Africa have largely been examined through the prisms of human rights and economic development. This has resulted in highly negative assessments; Internet shutdowns have widely been branded as violations of the rights of African citizens, and the bane of economic development. However, while unarguably extreme, Internet blackouts are not necessarily unjustified or unwarranted. Even influential bodies such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recognise the need to shut down the Internet under certain circumstances. Governments often justify Internet shutdowns by citing principles or values that are valid in principle. These include protecting their sovereignty, combating ‘rascality’ among telecom operators, and maintaining peace and security. Given this, it is important to examine the extent to which Internet shutdowns in Africa have been justified, or whether they have been used to advance authoritarian rule. To this end, this study uses documentary analysis and critical observations to explore the morality of Internet blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa, and specifically whether or not the recent shutdowns in Cameroon and Nigeria have been justified. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/dps/article/view/1149Internet Censorship, Internet Blackout, Cyber Sovereignty, Human Rights, Online Movement, Authoritarianism, Social Responsibility. |
| spellingShingle | Floribert Patrick C. Endong Internet blackouts in Africa Digital Policy Studies Internet Censorship, Internet Blackout, Cyber Sovereignty, Human Rights, Online Movement, Authoritarianism, Social Responsibility. |
| title | Internet blackouts in Africa |
| title_full | Internet blackouts in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Internet blackouts in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internet blackouts in Africa |
| title_short | Internet blackouts in Africa |
| title_sort | internet blackouts in africa |
| topic | Internet Censorship, Internet Blackout, Cyber Sovereignty, Human Rights, Online Movement, Authoritarianism, Social Responsibility. |
| url | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/dps/article/view/1149 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT floribertpatrickcendong internetblackoutsinafrica |