https://www.enca.com/technology/internet-freedom-on-downfall-ethiopia-worst
Internet freedom on downfall, Ethiopia worst
Technology
Friday 18 November 2016 - 7:28am
File: Among these countries is Ethiopia ranking the worst in the
continent and fourth in the world just ahead of Iran, Syria and China
out of the 65 countries in terms of access to the internet,
censorship, and freedom of information. Photo: Flickr.com/BEE FREE
ADDIS ABABA - A new report by Freedom House shows that internet
freedom around the world declined in 2016 for the sixth consecutive
year, given two thirds of all internet users live in countries where
criticism of government, military, or ruling family are subjective to
censorship.
The report titled “Freedom on the Net 2016”, stressed that with more
governments than ever before targeting social media and communication
apps as a means of halting the rapid dissemination of information,
particularly during anti-government protests freedom to using internet
and access to information has been unthinkable.
Among these countries is Ethiopia ranking the worst in the continent
and fourth in the world just ahead of Iran, Syria and China out of the
65 countries in terms of access to the internet, censorship, and
freedom of information.
Ethiopia is currently under a state of emergency following series of
anti-protests in its two major ethnic groups Oromia and Amhara.
In response to that Ethiopian authorities have intermittently blocked
mobile phone and internet connections for more than two months in the
country to stop the spread of information on social media.
They have also blocked social media like Facebook, WhatsApp, and
twitter; however, still opposition Diaspora activists have been
spreading information. People have been using proxy settings to gain
access to emails and other online services.
Internet freedom: Why access is becoming a human right
The report by the non- profit US based organisation have also shows
that social media users face unprecedented penalties as authorities in
38 countries made arrests based on social media posts over the past
year.
Globally, 27 percent of all internet users live in countries where
people have been arrested for publishing, sharing, or merely “liking”
content on social media.
In Ethiopia, various bloggers, journalists and activists have been
arrested because of their content on social media. The government has
passed a law a few months ago to imprison people who distribute
defamatory speech, pornography and spam online under its Computer
Crime Proclamation making any exchange of information that is deemed
anti-governmental, against the system or officials a punishable act.
A week ago one of the Zone9 Bloggers collective was arrested because
of his posts on social media and for giving an interview for Voice of
America along with other bloggers and online activists.
Whatever the justification, further explains the report, restrictions
on social media and internet based communication tools threaten to
infringe on users’ fundamental right to access the internet. It also
adds that in a landmark resolution passed in July 2016, the UN Human
Rights Council condemned state- sponsored disruptions to internet
access and the free flow of information online.
It also notes that a worsening of conditions in more than half of the
65 countries studied. The biggest declines were in Uganda, Bangladesh
and Cambodia. In addition to restricting access to social media and
communication apps, state authorities more frequently imprison users
for their posts and the content of their messages, creating a chilling
effect among others who write on controversial topics.
Is the internet a basic human right?
Ethiopia’s passed counter-terrorism laws over the last five years that
make it easier to pressure journalists and bloggers.
Government owned ethio-Telecom has monopoly on internet access. Only
12 percent of the populations has internet access and few people can
afford it, given mobile access costs 85 dollars a month compare to 30
dollars a month in neighbouring countries like Uganda or Kenya.
Telecommunication infrastructure in rural areas, where most of
Ethiopia’s population lives is almost entirely absent.
However, the internet continues to be an important destination for
petitioning for better governance, with two-thirds countries in the
study seeing a tangible outcome from internet- based activism, from
defeat of a restrictive legislative proposal to the exposure of
corruption through citizen journalism.
“During the year, for example, internet freedom activities in Nigeria
helped thwart a bill that would have limited social media, while a
WhatsApp group in Syria helped save innocent lives by warning
civilians of impending air raids”, the study said.
On the other hand, 14 countries improved their internet freedom and
amongst which South Africa registered an improvement due to the
success of online activists in using the internet to promote societal
change and diversifying online content, rather than any positive
government actions.
Freedom House is an organisation dedicated to the expansion for
democracy and their Freedom on the Net report covers 88pc of the
world’s internet users. More than 70 researchers, nearly all based in
the countries they analysed contributed to the study which focused on
developments from June 2015 to May 2016.
Reuters
Received on Fri Nov 18 2016 - 16:31:26 EST