Rise in internet shutdowns: Experts canvases proactive steps

Mr. Remmy Nweke, lead strategist at DigitalSENSE Africa Media group, has said laid out some proactive steps to checkmate the rising Internet shut downs across Africa.

Speaking 2018 Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica2018) which held at La Palm Beach Resort, Accra, Ghana, Nweke advised both media entities and digital rights defenders-based civil society organization,no matter the size to ensure they have an online regulatory desk.

He also urged digital rights inclined civil society organisations to ensure they have regulatory officers, who should ordinarily interface with law makers and policy makers at the government levels.

Armed with these proactive options, Nweke said both the media, practitioners and CSO will checkmate the obnoxious laws ahead of time, especially as they pose threat to Internet development on the continent.

“These options will help stakeholders to see early enough some of the inclines of gagging and stifling media especially online and alarm could be triggered for early-sign warnings to the larger society, sensitization and rejection of such moves,” he said.

Nweke who spoke extensively at the session on “Trends in online regulation in Africa” during FiFAfrica 2018, was accompanied in the panel by Sakah Bernard Nsaidzedze of Pan African University in Cameroun; Legal practitioner and media trainer, Mr. Zakaria Tanko Musah of Ghana Institute of Journalism, an independent analyst, Nanjala Nyabola, and Sellina Sheena Nkowani from the Nation Publications, Malawi.