South Africa to host 2017 forum on internet freedom in Africa

By Wallace Mawire* The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and the Association for Progressive Communication (APC) are set to co-host the 2017 edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica). According to a CIPESA spokesperson, this year’s forum will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 27 to 29 September, 2017 expanding the physical footprint of the forum which has since inception in 2014 been held in Kampala, Uganda. It is also reported that the landmark event convenes various stakeholders from the internet governance and online rights arenas in Africa and beyond to deliberate on gaps, concerns and opportunities for advancing privacy, access to information, free expression,non-discrimination and the free flow of information online. The forum is also expected to bring together human rights defenders,journalists, government officials, private sector players, global information intermediaries, bloggers, developers, the arts community, law enforcers and regulators, all of whom have a role to play inadvancing internet freedom in Africa. According to the organisers, the highlights at FIFAfrica include the launch of the annual State of Internet Freedom in Africa research report, the commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) that falls on September 28, digital security clinics and this year, an exhibition showcasing the work and products of various players in the internet freedom arena in Africa.