By Egline Samoei
The Africa Tech Policy Summit 2025, held in Nairobi, spotlighted the urgent and evolving digital rights landscape across the continent.
Hosted by KICTANet, the side event titled “Advocacy Engagement on Digital Rights in Africa and The Universal Periodic Review (UPR)” brought together policy leaders, civil society, and technology experts to address the threats and opportunities facing Africa’s digital future.
Digital Rights Under Pressure
Dr Wairagala Wakabi, Executive Director of Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), delivered a keynote outlining the most pressing challenges to digital freedoms in Africa.
“Internet shutdowns, state surveillance, and the rapid spread of misinformation are not just technical issues—they are fundamental threats to our democracy and human rights,” Dr. Wakabi warned.
Key issues highlighted included:
- Internet Shutdowns: Increasingly used during elections and protests to silence dissent.
- Surveillance: State monitoring of online activity raises serious privacy concerns.
- Misinformation and Hate Speech: Politically motivated disinformation threatens social cohesion.
- Infringement of Privacy: Weak data governance exposes citizens to misuse of personal data.
- Digital Divide: Millions, especially women and rural populations, remain excluded from digital access.
- AI-Enabled Disinformation: Deepfakes and algorithmic manipulation are emerging as new battlegrounds in information warfare.
“These issues demand urgent attention from governments, civil society, and tech platforms alike,” Dr. Wakabi emphasised.
Technology as a Tool for Empowerment
Despite the challenges, the UPR Digital Rights Awareness Workshop celebrated technology’s role in empowering citizens.
Dr Wakabi cited the Gen Z-led protests in Kenya as a prime example: “Digital platforms have given young people the tools to organize, mobilize, and amplify their voices against systemic issues,” he said.
Access to information has become more equitable, enabling broader participation in civic discourse and government accountability.
A Call to Action
The workshop called for collective action to protect digital rights as Africa’s digital transformation accelerates.
“Digital rights are human rights, and their protection is vital for inclusive growth, democratic governance, and individual freedoms in Africa’s digital age,” said Dr. Grace Githaiga, CEO of KICTANet.
Stakeholders were urged to:
- Push for policies that safeguard online freedoms.
- Invest in digital literacy and inclusion.
- Ensure technology is used to empower, not oppress.
Kenya’s Digital Rights at a Crossroads
The discussions also focused on Kenya’s progress and challenges. Following KICTANet’s participation in the 49th Pre-session of the UPR in Geneva, the need to translate international advocacy into local action was clear.
Kenya’s “Freedom on the Net” rating dropped to “Partly Free” in 2023, with only 39% of women having internet access compared to 59% of men.
The government’s response to recent protests and the June 2024 internet shutdown highlighted ongoing digital rights violations.
Dr. Githaiga stressed the importance of local coalitions: “Our work is spreading, and we must continue to build partnerships to ensure digital rights remain visible, protected, and actionable in national and international policy.”
Looking Ahead
With a new coalition for digital rights in Kenya, convened by BAKE and KICTANet, the groundwork is set for stronger advocacy and accountability ahead of Kenya’s formal UPR review.
As Dr. Wakabi concluded, “The future of participation, privacy, and progress in Africa depends on our ability to protect digital rights today.”
Egline Samoei, a KeSIG 2020 fellow is a digital marketer, a technology writer, and the founder of Samodigital Agency.