Equatorial Guinea is curbing access to the internet

also ft Digital Curfew Against Examination Malpractice in Kenya

CybAfriqué is a space for news and analysis on cyber, data, and information security on the African continent.

Hello,

This edition focuses on censorship moves by the Kenyan and Equatorial Guinea governments to prevent examination scandals and the further spread of illicit content. However, this sparks a debate about the government’s activities or role in facilitating or controlling information and communication. 

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HIGHLIGHTS 

This is not the first time Equatorial Guinea is curbing access to the internet

Recently, Equatorial Guinea restricted citizens from downloading multimedia content on WhatsApp via mobile data and telecommunication providers were obliged to take measures to enforce the policy. Citizens now rely solely on satellite (which is very limited) internet connections to share multimedia content. This restriction follows a leaked sexual scandal by one high-ranking official who reportedly shot over 400 sex tapes in what appears to be a breach of data privacy. The official, Baltasar Engonga, was embroiled in a controversy after intimate videos surfaced online, sparking widespread outrage. In an illegal move to ensure officials abide by moral conduct, the government also aims to plant surveillance cameras across government offices. 

The bigger picture, however, is that Equatorial Guinea has a history of internet repression and censorship. In a report by AccessNow, a non-profit organisation focusing on digital and civil rights, the government is buoyant on severing citizens’ access to the internet, particularly during civil unrest such as protests. It is one of the African countries to have suspended Starlink and mandated that the satellite broadband obtains a licence. 

Only 18.6 per cent of the population uses social media. Despite the country being a signatory to many international accords on human rights, especially the freedom of expression online and offline, the country lacks compliance in practice. In fact, the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and the Protection of Personal Data also known as the Malabo Convention was adopted in the country in 2014, which is ironically among one of the earliest to do so.

This year, Equatorial Guinea ranked 127th on the World Press Freedom Index, meanwhile, it was 120th in 2023. 

Digital Curfew Against Examination Malpractice in Kenya

The Communications Authority (CA) in Kenya has ordered the shutdown of Telegram during examination hours to prevent examination malpractices among students although there have been contentions against this directive by civil society organisations and other digital rights advocates. In November 2023, the social messaging app Telegram was shut down for the first time resulting in estimated losses of KSh 4.2 billion (approximately $27 million).

ICYMI: North African Authoritarian Regimes and Digital Right Suppression

A similar approach to curb examination cheating has been in practice in Algeria for several years even without official declarations at times. In September 2020, there was a 5-day internet shutdown between 7:30 AM and 6:00 PM which affected the rest of the population and violated citizen’s rights to access information amongst other economic implications. 

In June 2024, Kenya witnessed a nationwide deliberate internet shutdown orchestrated by the government during the #Rejectfinancebill protests to quell dissent. In later weeks, Safaricom, the country’s leading telecom provider has come under allegations of releasing consumer data to government agencies, which is being speculated to have been used in targeting protesters and political dissidents. 

FEATURES

• This report by the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) recognises Nigeria and South Africa as regional hotspots for misinformation and disinformation agendas in Africa whereas, it is not uncommon on other continents where some countries also confront anti-democratic narratives. 

• The recent election in Mauritius which saw the opposition government sweep off administrative seats in a major defeat has sparked concerns about privacy, governance, and ethics amid a wiretapping scandal. 

HEADLINES

• Zimbabwe’s WhatsApp Group Admin License Fees Depend On The Group Sizes: From $50 to $2,500 - Techzim

• TikTok Removes More Than 360,000 Videos in Kenya - Tech Labari

• Safaricom denies claims of colluding with police to breach customer privacy - EastLeigh Voice 

• Starlink Gets Approval To Operate Its Satellite Internet Service in Chad - Tech Labari

• South African Regulator Blocks Vodacom-Maziv Fiber Deal, Raising Concerns over Market Dominance - Tech In Africa 

• Africa’s largest mobile network operator designates IP Infusion as approved supplier for open, disaggregated networking - Tech In Africa 

• Kenya invests in border security and cyber intelligence to combat terrorism - Hiiraan 

• Bolt Commits €100 million To Improve Security On The Platform - BW TechZone 

• Nigeria: OPay Unveils Large Transaction Shield to Strengthen Security Against Fraud - Regtech Africa 

• Nigerian Police, NPF-NCCC Arrest 130 Suspects for Cybercrime - Africa Cybersecurity Magazine 

• BCLCC and CSC join forces against cybercrime in Burkina Faso - Africa Cybersecurity Magazine 

• Officers protecting foreign hackers on illegal duty — IG - Punch Newspaper 

ACROSS THE WORLD 

• FBI, CISA say Chinese hackers breached multiple US telecom providers in targeted attack

• The CrowdStrike Incident: The Devil is in the Details, and Chaos is in the Code

OPPORTUNITIES 

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