Full Description
This open access book provides ten in-depth case studies of state-sponsored internet shutdowns across all regions of Africa. In so doing, it offers the first-ever comparative analysis of how African states use internet shutdowns as tools to close civic space, suppress opposition, and maintain power.
Authored entirely by African researchers, Internet Shutdowns in Africa shows how shutdowns are used as a tactic of war, to blackout news of state violence, or to disrupt opposition protests. At the same time, the findings gathered here demonstrate the wide variety of forms these shutdowns take: they can be nationwide or localised; they can target a specific social media platform or website; or they can avoid the appearance of a complete shutdown by throttling connection speeds; and all of these types of shutdowns can last weeks, months, or even years. Ultimately, the book provides a unique comparative assessment of the dramatic economic, social, and political consequences of shutdowns - some intentional and some unintended - as well as on how different demographic groups are affected in very different ways, all of which produces actionable recommendations.
The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com.
Contents
List of Illustrations
List of Contributors
Chapter 1. An Introduction to Critical Internet Shutdowns Research in Africa - Tony Roberts & Felicia Anthonio
Chapter 2. Zimbabwe's 2019 Internet Shutdown: The Interplay of Technology, Rights and Power
Nompilo Simanje
Chapter 3. Internet Shutdowns in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Arsène Tungali
Chapter 4. Weaponization of the Internet During Zambia's 2021 Election
Susan Mwape
Chapter 5. Human Rights, Armed Conflicts and Internet Shutdowns in Ethiopia
Yohannes Eneyew Ayalew and Lea Mehari Redae
Chapter 6. Internet Shutdowns in Sudan, Power, Counter-Power and Rights
Khattab Hamad
Chapter 7. A Rights-Based Approach to Assessing Internet Shutdowns in Nigeria
Thobekile Matimbe and Charles Kajoloweka
Chapter 8. Internet Shutdowns in Chad
Qemal Affagnon
Chapter 9. Internet Shutdowns in Senegal: How Power Interests Prevail Over Citizen Rights
Ababacar Diop
Chapter 10. Internet Shutdowns in Burkina Faso: Technology, Rights and Power
Harold Adjaho
Chapter 11. Algeria's Internet Shutdowns and School Exams
Kassem Mnejja
Chapter 12. Uganda's 2021 Election: Platforms Versus the State Versus Citizens
Juliet Nanfuka
Chapter 13. Conclusions on Critical Internet Shutdown Research
Tony Roberts & Felicia Anthonio
Index
