Change Makers What motivated you to become an advocate for Internet freedom in Africa, and how did you get started? I have always been an advocate for human rights, particularly freedom of expression and the media. Over the years, the Internet has become central to how we communicate and access information. So, being an advocate for Internet freedom was a natural progression in terms of my passions. Access to the Internet is now an enabler for other rights such as access to information and freedom of expression that I have already alluded to above. But with the growth of the Internet, there is a need to emphasise other rights, such as the right to privacy. What progress have you seen in the expansion of Internet freedom in Africa over the past ten years? I think the fact that digital rights are now being prioritised at regional forums such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is a testament to the work that has been done in advocacy for Internet freedom. Just recently, digital rights, as key to the realisation and enforcement of human rights on the African continent, were among the thematic focus areas at the 73rd ordinary session of the ACHPR. This prioritisation shows that there has been a rapid expansion in Internet freedom. However, advocacy on Internet freedom is still nascent in Africa and more work still needs to be done to ensure further expansion. For example, we have seen a flurry of cyber security laws in Southern Africa, which are ostensibly meant to protect Internet users, but in reality, are meant to stifle freedom of expression and freedom of assembly among other rights. Internet shutdowns are still quite commonplace across the whole continent. So, a lot of progress has been made, but more still needs to be done. What are some of the most promising innovations, best practices, and initiatives that are contributing to the expansion of Internet freedom and digital rights in Africa? Even under difficult circumstances, we are seeing a lot of great work by the youthful population on the continent. This has been witnessed through innovative interventions. We see these innovations in East Africa, West Africa, and Southern Africa. Literally, in the scope of my work, I have noticed Sub-Saharan Africa, where I do most of my work, is coming of age. Disruptions and shutdown of Internet services remain one of the most critical challenges facing the continent. Further, the cost and access to the platforms remain a challenge, yet we have seen structured responses through court challenges to shutdowns, and the launch of circumvention tools and mechanisms to keep the speed of the net in check. Although we are at different stages on the innovative growth trajectory, there is increasing pressure across the continent towards the next wave of AI-induced growth to be localised rather than the importation of technology that struggles with indigenous knowledge systems. This is where we are seeing a lot of experimentation across the continent in the efforts towards providing solutions to this challenge. A CIPESA Series 37