Shrinking Cyberspace – Dangers to Democracy and Civil Society in Africa and Germany in the Digital Age

The progressing restriction of digital space – “Shrinking Cyberspace” – in Africa makes it difficult for the civil society to report on undemocratic events in the respective countries and to criticize. Related Internet laws or better the “shutting down” of the social media in the course of elections or protests, cut freedom of expression and human rights. In the German discussion, on the other hand, the restriction of Internet freedom is considered necessary to protect democracy in times of “hate speech” and “fake news”.
In an expert round, Ruth Aine Tindyebwa, Ugandan blogger and communications consultant, and William Robert Bird, director of the South African non-profit organization “Media Monitoring Project” (tba), will discuss what the restriction of cyberspace in different societies for democracy, human rights and Freedom of expression mean and what future developments could look like. We cordially invite you to discuss with us.

Christian Echle, head of the media program Sub-Saharan Africa of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

The event will be moderated by Prof. Anja Mihr, Head of the Center on Governance through Human Rights.

The event is part of the event series “Governance through Human Rights in the digital space” taking place in spring/summer 2017 in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the Viadrina Center Internet and Human Rights, Reporters without Boarders, the Berlin University of Arts (Universität der Künste) und Posteo.