ency and accountability during the election process, providing citizens with information on their candidates, party policies and the elections process, enabling them to make informed decisions when they cast their votes or engage in public debate. The media also have a responsibility to produce accurate, professional and impartial reports. FREE EXPRESSION ONLINE Government striving for significant improvements to internet accessibility by 2020 Online self-censorship is generally low in South Africa, with limited fear around expressing oneself online. Those who can afford internet access can gain exposure to a variety of viewpoints and information sources and there is so far little evidence to suggest the government actively tries to hamper or control discussions in this space. However, access is limited by the fact that while there is English and Afrikaans content online, South Africa’s other offical languages are under-represented, even on government websites. “Secrecy Bill” threatens free expression online The “Secrecy Bill”, explained above, also threatens to criminalize the possession and distribution of state information online. Citizens who intentionally access leaked information, including information online, could be held criminally liable and face up to 10 years in prison. The General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (“Spy Bill”) also threatens freedom of explression online as it grants governments expanded surveillance powers. This is especially worrying given the South African Government has made an increasing number of requests for user data from Google and Facebook in recent years. In an effort to improve accessibility, the Department of Communications implemented a new broadband policy in December 2013 –South Africa Connect ¬– striving to ensure every citizen can access a broadband connection for 2.5 percent or less of the average monthly income by 2020. Adding to these efforts, the Gauteng provincial government has ramped up plans for it’s Gauteng Broadband Network, awarding a ZAR 1.5 billion tender in February 2014 to provide 95% of the province’s population with free broadband access by 2019. So This is Democracy? 2014 57