Internet Sans Frontières is a French NGO that promotes and defends human rights on the internet, particularly the right to freedom of expression and the right to privacy. What are its main activities?
Thanks to our global network of partners and representatives, we implement projects and campaigns to promote the free flow of information and knowledge, defend digital freedoms and rights, and fight against all forms of censorship on connected networks. On the continent, we intervene in particular when internet access is cut off in certain countries. We also mobilize and raise awareness in the field, among civil society organizations and citizens alike, on digital issues. We are very active in the field of research: we recently conducted a study on Orange's terms of use in Senegal to determine whether or not this player respects privacy and fundamental rights such as freedom of expression. We also respond to training challenges on the continent, working with institutions and other civil society organizations that wish to deepen their knowledge of digital technology.
In which countries are you present?
On the continent, we are present in Chad and Togo, and we have just launched activities in Senegal.
What do you see as the main challenges to the development of the internet on the African continent?
There are still many obstacles to the development of the internet today:
- Economic barriers, as Africa is the most expensive place on the planet in terms of connectivity;
- Political barriers, as it is also a continent where internet shutdowns are becoming normalised;
- The final obstacle lies in understanding how the internet works and the power issues related to platforms.
At a time when the internet is a breeding ground for fake news, how do you think we can raise awareness of this phenomenon among users, stakeholders, and the media?
There have already been many initiatives on the continent to raise awareness of fake news
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but we must continue to raise awareness on this issue. We need to raise awareness among stakeholders. How? By making them realize that it is not enough to simply enter a market, particularly in Africa. They also need to understand that market, adapt their platform "cleaning" tools to local realities, and understand how disinformation works in those territories. But the approach must go beyond the digital realm. We must also invest in grassroots campaigns, reaching out to people across the continent who have long been cut off from information or have only had access to it through one or two media outlets. With the rise of digital technology, these populations are now faced with an overload of information. Even the most seasoned media professionals can quickly become overwhelmed by this. In this sense, it is important to raise awareness of this issue among the media and help them to sharpen their critical thinking skills. To achieve this, both public and private actors must support the initiative. Public actors should do so through budgets allocated to training or supporting local media, while private actors should implement technical measures to curb the phenomenon.
Given the economic situation of the media on the continent, it is understandable that they prefer sensationalism to investigation. The urgent need is therefore to provide economic support to these media, particularly through state budgets, while imposing a certain degree of transparency to counter any form of influence. We must not forget that information is a fundamental right and must be a public service.
How do you see the development of GAFA, Google/Facebook, on the continent and, above all, the growing dependence that is being created among internet users?
The development of GAFA on the continent is both a threat and an opportunity. An opportunity, first of all, because these companies are compensating for the inaction of states, despite their legal obligations, in the development of infrastructure and investment in this area. On the continent, and particularly in French-speaking Africa, countries have universal service obligations. In theory, everyone in the territory should have access to the internet and telecommunications tools thanks to universal access funds financed in part by operators' revenues. But this is not the case. According to a 2018 study by the Web Foundation, $400 million lies dormant in these universal access funds in Africa. Faced with this inaction, GAFA companies are stepping up their efforts to connect the continent because they are aware that their next consumers will be in Africa. However, the development of their presence in African markets can also be a danger for internet users, as governments do not constrain these new players and do not impose any obligations on them. If we look at Facebook's service, Free Basics
, an application that provides access to some internet content, Facebook gives free access to a part of the web chosen by the social network in partnership with telecommunications operators, without any transparency. In addition, there is also the issue of African internet users' personal data, which few governments seem to consider.
Within your NGO, you are fighting for net neutrality and to protect the privacy of African internet users. What kind of initiatives are you implementing to achieve this?
We are partners of the Digital Rights Index Ranking, which we want to roll out across the continent. This index ranks and rates the leading digital companies and telecom operators based on how they protect their users' privacy and freedom of expression. It enables the UN principles for responsible business practices to be applied in digital law based on three indicators: governance, freedom of expression, and privacy. This index not only ranks companies but also supports them in this process and in implementing best practices. That is why we wanted to adapt this index at the local level on the continent to guide companies in the development of responsible digital practices.
How do you see the internet evolving on the continent over the next few years?
I am confident, but I think we need to be extra vigilant. Today, there is a war of positions when it comes to the internet and its future: some advocate a free and open internet that respects freedoms across borders; others believe that money can be made from it, but by closing and removing anything that is not suitable, such as the Chinese or Russian models. Today, these two visions are clashing on the African continent, since everything still needs to be built in terms of digital technology. There is a growing temptation for states to take advantage of the internet and ignore all the disadvantages: the internet generates growth but also inspires a desire for democracy. Many states will therefore want to control the internet. As the web develops on the continent, both public and private actors will need to be extra vigilant to ensure that African countries remain open to the world, both globally and locally.