Report on Online Discussions on Promoting Internet Freedoms in Africa, November 11 – December 6, 2013

The popularity of social media, Wikileaks, and Arab Spring uprisings have led governments to recognise the power of online media. In a number of African countries, there are increasing legal and extra-legal curbs on internet rights. As shown in Google transparency reports, the number of governments requesting data about online users has doubled in the last three years (2010 - 2012). An online forum for internet freedom discussions was hosted on selected platforms in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. That some requests for content removal may be politically motivated, is cause for concern