Governance
Fighting Back Against Internet Shutdowns in Zimbabwe
OUR TAKE:Governments often mistakenly believe that shutting down the Internet can quell unrest, stop the spread of misinformation, reduce the harm of cybersecurity threats, or, as in the case of exam-related shutdowns in Algeria and Iraq, curb cheating.But shutdowns are highly disruptive to economic…
Headline
OUR TAKE:Governments often mistakenly believe that shutting down the Internet can quell unrest, stop the spread of misinformation, reduce the harm of cybersecurity threats, or, as in the case of exam-related shutdowns in Algeria and Iraq, curb cheating.But shutdowns are highly…
Context
OUR TAKE: Governments often mistakenly believe that shutting down the Internet can quell unrest, stop the spread of misinformation, reduce the harm of cybersecurity threats, or, as in the case of exam-related shutdowns in Algeria and Iraq, curb cheating.But shutdowns are highly disruptive to economic activity: they bring e-commerce to a halt, cause losses in time-sensitive transactions, increase unemployment, interrupt communication between businesses and customers, and pose financial and reputational risks to companies. –Fei Wang, BTW Reporter The situation of the Internet shut down is on the rise. According to Pulse , 18 countries, including eight in Africa, experienced 124 closures in 2023.Although Zimbabwe is not one of these countries, it has experienced several confirmed and alleged shutdowns.These events occur during political unrest or protests, limiting access to information and communication platforms and preventing the spread of near-real-time news and observations.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
Also read: World’s longest internet shutdown: How it wreaked havoc in Manipur This particularly hampers the ability of human rights workers and human rights monitoring organizations to document human rights violations in such times.Without well-designed and systematic counteractions and means to circumvent or mitigate the impact, government-imposed shutdowns will continue to impede the monitoring efforts of human rights programs and human rights organizations. Also read: The Government Shutdown May or May Not Affect You. Here’s What to Expect Building on previous advocacy work, Bright Chimedza recently surveyed 83 Zimbabwe Human Rights Commissioners about their challenges and concerns about the Internet shutdown in order to better support them and prepare them to document and monitor human rights violations during the Internet shutdown. Bright Chimedza is a Political Scientist with a passion for electoral processes, civic engagement, and strategic planning.
Key Points
- In 2023, 18 countries, including eight in Africa, experienced 124 closures.
- Bright Chimedza recently surveyed 83 Zimbabwe Human Rights Commissioners about their challenges and concerns about Internet shutdowns in order to better support their work.
- Based on the survey, Bright Chimedza offers five actions to address the risks.
Actions
Pending intelligence enrichment.
