SECTOR 1 1.9 The state does not seek to block or filter internet content unless in accordance with laws that provide for restrictions that serve a legitimate interest and are necessary for a democratic society, and which are applied by independent courts The state has not sought to block or filter internet content per sé, but there is provision in the law for CRAN to do so if government is satisfied that an entity or individual has committed one of the general offences stated in Section 117 of the Communications Act. There have been cases, however, where the ability to report online has been hampered. One panellist noted that, ‘There have been instances such as at the Land Conference and at [the] State House, where they have jammed the signal.’ Another stated that, ‘At the SWAPO Extraordinary Congress which started on [the] 30th November 2018, no phones were allowed during the opening ceremony and as such, online or social media reporting was not possible.’ At the University of Namibia (UNAM) ‘there is quite an extensive blocking procedure for workers and students, using a platform known as Cyberoam. The excuse for this is bandwidth.’ Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: Score of previous years: ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ 3.2 2005: n/a; 2007: n/a; 2009: 4.3; 2011: 4.1; 2015: 3.6 1.10 Civil society in general and media lobby groups actively advance the cause of media freedom ‘Media lobbies and CSOs have become a lot more active and there seems to be more focus and capacity in advancing the cause of media freedom. However, they remain relevant to the Namibian context. They won’t go to the streets to toyi-toyi for media freedom, but in terms of advocacy, promoting media literacy, policy interventions and so forth, they are active.’ Panellists differed, however, on how effective these groups have been in advancing the cause of media freedom (beyond World Press Freedom Day), 18 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2018