• the convenience of online services can mean issues of privacy are not considered very important. To this end, MISA is collaborating with Privacy International to research and campaign for freedom of expression online. Through this partnership we have joined a network of global partners (researchers, human rights advocates and privacy and technology experts) from over 20 countries to: Internet kiosk in Outjo, Namibia. Photo: MISA Regional Secretariat images, 2014. I n 2013, there were many events and developments in southern Africa and around the world, which highlighted the importance of and need for privacy and safety online. Internationally, Germany and Brazil’s introduction of a draft resolution on the Right to Privacy in the Digital Age in the UN General Assembly marked a key development in the fight for recognition of privacy rights. Across the continent, activists, civil society, media and private citizens are asking how the Internet environment can be cultivated to best meet Africa’s social and economic development needs and goals and MISA is collaborating with other concerned civil society organisations to draft the African Declaration for Internet Rights and Freedoms. The declaration will define principles, which will serve as the basis for the Internet in Africa. A key development demonstrating how governments are tightening their control on communications infrastructure in southern Africa occurred in Zimbabwe in October 2013. The Zimbabwe government introduced a law requiring citizens to register their mobile telephone SIM cards. All mobile phone subscribers are required to register their SIM cards or risk a jail term of up to six months. At registration, the law requires the service provider to obtain all identifying information about a user, including name, address and national identity or passport number. 34 There are greater repercussions to this and various experts, organisations and individuals have expressed concerns about State intrusion into their lives. The justification from the State is that this form of registration is a basic national security necessity. Unfortunately, the ‘national security’ argument is increasingly being pushed by various countries in the region as a justification for limiting freedom of expression and media freedom. South Africa, for example, also has legislation requiring mobile subscribers to register their SIM cards and their law also allows for the interception of communications in the country. • understand the privacy discourse and identify challenges faced in advancing the right to privacy across the globe; • find opportunities to collaborate on research and advocacy initiatives; and • share experiences and best practices on research, dissemination and advocacy strategies to influence policy change. Journalists, bloggers and private citizens are increasingly using online platforms, social networks and mobile devices to express themselves on a wide range of issues. In 2013, therefore, MISA surveyed journalists, bloggers, human rights activists, academics, technology experts and students to gauge their understanding of the risks and threats they face when using digital media in their line of work. Freedom of Expression Online Regional Dialogue and Workshop MISA is using this research to develop simple protocols and identify the best tools for protecting themselves and their work. One of the main ways in which we did this in 2013 was through a regional dialogue on freedom of expression online, which attracted leaders in the media and information and communication technology industry in southern Africa. Dr. Sarah Chiumbu, a media activist, researcher and lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, opened the dialogue with her keynote address on the implications of new media for freedom of expression. She posited that in this day and age, it was no longer a question of whether or not we are being watched – “I think we have come to accept it and think it is normal” – but rather, who is watching us? This set the scene for a discussion on a range of more specific issues, questions and practical considerations within this broader topic, including standards and ethics in online and citizen journalism; online security and privacy; Internet regulation and governance; and managing digital transformation in newsrooms. On the second day we held a practical workshop on Internet privacy and security, familiarising participants with online publishing and security tools that can help facilitate freedom of expression in cyberspace by improving work efficiency, facilitating access to broader audiences, enabling access to blocked or banned information and enabling online anonymity and protection. The use of legislation to promote ‘national security’ is a key concern because rights such as privacy have not yet been entrenched in the minds and actions of many citizens and yet citizens across the continent are using various technological services (email, social networking, banking etc.) every day, without adequate safeguards. From the side of the user, some of the risk factors MISA wants to address include: • lack of knowledge by users about how their privacy may be breached; • lack of understanding by users about the resources and tools that are available to help them protect themselves online; and Freedonm of Expression Online, Regional Dialogue and Workshop, conducted by MISA in Johanesburg in September 2013. Photo: MISA Regional Secretariat images, 2013. 35