Dear Esteemed Reader,
October is a significant month in the tech space as it is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. During this month, we joined other digital rights and cybersecurity advocates and enthusiasts in amplifying essential messages about staying safe online. October provided us with a perfect platform to empower and educate members of the public on adopting best practices to keep their digital spaces secure. The end of this month does not mark the end of our efforts; instead, it reinforces our ongoing commitment to a safer, more inclusive internet for all.
Together, let us continue to build a safer and more informed digital community. Thank you for your support and commitment to our mission and vision.
Enjoy the read, The Paradigm Initiative Team.
Key Highlights
• DRIF25 launched in Lusaka, Zambia.
• Paradigm Initiative supports Digital Rights and Freedom Bill.
• PIN announces DRILL 2024 fellows.
• WSCIJ Conference to spotlight AI, free press, civic space, and investigative reporting.
• Net Rights Coalition calls on Mozambique to stop restricting mobile internet traffic.
• The Power of Collective Action and Cross-Border Collaboration.
DRIF25 Launched in Lusaka, Zambia
The 2025 edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF25) has been launched, with a call to countries in the Global South to guard the internet as it is the last standing civic space. In a ceremony held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia, ’Gbenga Sesan, Paradigm Initiative’s Executive Director, also emphasised the need for countries in Africa to fight their own battles, including those concerning elections and electoral systems. The organisation also unveiled the following event partners: the Ministry of Technology and Science, Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA), Zambian Cyber Security Initiative Foundation (ZCSIF), Internet Society (ISOC) Zambia, Bloggers of Zambia, Common Cause Zambia, and Internews Zambia. The DRIF25 theme, “Promot-
ing Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology,” was also announced, and the occasion provided an opportunity to share the DRIF story. The event will take place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka, Zambia, from 29 April to 1 May 2025. DRIF is an important platform where conversations on digital policy are shaped, policy directions are debated, and partnerships are forged for action. Last year’s event, which was hosted in Accra, Ghana, attracted 1,044 registered attendees, bringing together delegates from 61 countries across the world.
Paradigm Initiative supports the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill as Nigeria moves toward strengthening human rights online
The Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, which aims to safeguard human rights online and protect internet users from the infringement of their fundamental freedoms, is back before the Nigerian Parliament for consideration. The Bill, which was sent
to the National Assembly in 2016 and passed by both chambers of the House, was not signed into law by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, who declined to sign it. Paradigm Initiative has been at the forefront of advocating for the adoption of this legislation in Nigeria and similar measures in other African countries. More details can be found here.
PIN Announces DRILL 2024 Fellows
The 2024 Paradigm Initiative’s (PIN’s) Digital Rights and Inclusion Learning Lab (DRILL) fellows have been announced. PIN settled on seven finalists from across Africa and India for this edition from a highly competitive pool of 1,490 applicants. This year’s cohort will play a pivotal role in advancing digital rights in their respective countries, including Tunisia, Ethiopia, Nigeria,
Burundi, Uganda, Namibia, and India. The fellowship will provide the selected fellows with the opportunity to engage deeply with digital rights and inclusion issues, participate in key policy discussions, and contribute to the ongoing efforts to shape a more inclusive digital future. See details.
Net Rights Coalition Calls on Mozambique to Stop Restricting Mobile Internet Traffic
On 25 and 26 October, there was a confirmed disruption to mobile internet traffic in Mozambique following protests that occurred after the announcement of the results of the General Elections held on 9 October 2024. To push back against such violations, the Net Rights Coalition released a statement calling on the Government of Mozambique to cease internet disruptions and urging Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disclose information concerning any government orders for internet shutdowns. [Read the Press Statement.]
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Advocacy Mission
Paradigm Initiative, represented by Thobekile Matimbe, the Senior Manager of Partnerships and Engagements, participated in the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) from 19th to 27th October. Thobekile made a presentation on the state of digital rights in Africa, focusing on calling for an end to the use of false news criminal provisions targeting human rights defenders in Africa and an end to Internet shutdowns. She participated in four side panels addressing Privacy, Disinformation, Internet Shutdowns and Artificial Intelligence addressing areas States can improve in promoting digital rights while acknowledging areas of progress at ACHPR level in advancing digital rights. PIN also convened a Technology and Human Rights Roundtable raising awareness of the United Nations Global Digital Compact (GDC) highlighting pertinent areas to the African context and how civil society organisations and National Human Rights Institutions can monitor implementation. We shared a digital toolkit for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) published by International Centre for Non-Profit Law (ICNL) in collaboration with PIN
and Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA). Read the Press Release here.
Events
Advocating Digital Policy Change in Tanzania
In partnership with the Zaina Foundation, we held a two-day workshop with members of the Tanzania Digital Rights Coalition focused on examining policy. Held as part of our Digital Policy Engagement Series (DiPES), the engagement was in response to a recent court ruling on Tanzania’s Personal Data Protection Act, No. 11 of 2023. Sessions included “Understanding the Personal Data Protection Legal
Framework,” “Unpacking and Understanding the Personal Data Protection Act No. 11 of 2023,” and “Dissecting the High Court Ruling in Miscellaneous Case No. 18 of 2023,” as well as sharing best practices on strategic litigation from across the African continent. The workshop culminated in the development of an advocacy action plan for the amendment of the Act.
LIFE@School Now Operational in Kondoa
On the sidelines of the DiPES Workshop in Tanzania, Paradigm Initiative also launched the LIFE@School project in Kondoa, Tanzania. The LIFE@ School project, spearheaded by the Kondoa Community Network Cooperative Society Ltd. with support from Paradigm Initiative (PIN), focuses on building capacity among high school students in Kondoa. The initiative aims to equip students with life skills, information and communication technology (ICT) skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Targeting over 1,400 students annually from two schools within the Kondoa Town and District Councils, the programme seeks to close the digital divide and usage gap in this underserved region. Representing PIN were our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, and Programmes Officer for East Africa, Miriam Wanjiru.
Paradigm Initiative Convenes Global South Alliance Open Meeting
Every quarter, the Global South Alliance (GSA) convenes open meetings that welcome all stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions. Paradigm Initiative hosted this quarter’s meeting on 22 October. In this meeting, grantees of the 2024 Empowering Democracy in the Global South through the Datafication and Democracy Fund—Palm Tree (Africa), Centre of Security and Citizenship Studies (LatAm), Corporación Cambio Sostenible (LatAm), Criminal Justice & Policy Accountability Project (Asia), and Ikigai Innovation Initiative (Africa)—shared their findings on the research they have been working on since April this year, focusing on critical topics, including child online protection, facial recognition, and data
governance in elections. The research presents the intersection of datafication and democracy and raises awareness about these important findings. Furthermore, discussions were held about what to expect from the second phase of the Datafication and Democracy Fund in 2025.
Stakeholders Meet in Ghana Under the DREAM Umbrella
On 30 October, Ghana’s edition of our Digital Rights and Election in Africa Meetings (DREAM) was held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. This event was organised to discuss the protection of digital rights and to raise awareness and educate stakeholders on the importance of digital rights in the election process. It provided a platform to address the threats posed by online misinformation and hate speech,
as well as the potential for internet shutdowns. DREAM aims to foster multi-stakeholder engagement to ensure that digital rights are respected by engaging with civil society organisations, media outlets, election management bodies, political parties, and tech platforms, particularly in the lead-up to Ghana’s 2024 General Elections, scheduled for 7 December 2024. On 31st October, 2024, the PIN together with its partners held a Press Conference where they stressed the need to safeguard digital rights in ensuring a transparent and democratic elections. Present at the event was Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan and Senior Programmes Officer, Khadijah El-Usman.
PIN Meets with Vodacom Group
In the course of the month, the Paradigm Initiative team met with 23 members of the Vodacom Group, a multinational telecommunications company. The meeting, initiated by Vodacom, was a progressive and welcome step in engaging with civil society actors. Several surveillance challenges were unpacked during the meeting, such as mandatory SIM card registration and invasive government requests to telecommunications companies for user information.
PIN Joins Other Stakeholders
at
the WTSA in New Delhi, India
Our Senior Programmes Officer, Ihueze Nwobilor, represented the organisation at the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24), which took place from 15 to 24 October 2024 in New Delhi, India. He joined other civil society organisations at the event to advocate for an open and interoperable Internet, focusing on issues such as AI safety, privacy, and the potential impacts of new standards on freedom of expression. As part of the civil society group at the event, several draft resolutions were analysed to ensure they do not threaten human rights or Internet integrity. The World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24) is crucial for addressing human rights in digital environments. Read more about WTSA-24.
