Surge in internet users sparks concerns
Africa has seen a dramatic rise in internet access, with almost 650 million users today, up from about 450 million a decade ago. Julie Owono, a member of Meta's Oversight Board and leader at Internet Sans Frontières, said this growth has also brought challenges. Many laws aimed at fighting cybercrime are now being used to punish people for speaking out online. These measures, originally designed to strengthen national security, are increasingly being used to silence critics and suppress free expression.
Owono highlighted troubling trends in several countries. In Côte d'Ivoire, the law makes it illegal to criticize the president online. In Cameroon, a law from 2010 penalizes the publication of unverified online content, a rule she says has been used against government critics. Junior Ngombe, a Cameroonian activist, was arrested after encouraging people during a TikTok livestream to participate in the 2025 election. These examples, Owono said, show how laws meant to ensure safety are often misused to control political voices.
Tech firms under fire for aiding censorship
Beyond governments, Owono said tech companies are also playing a role in limiting free speech. Major firms are increasingly responding to government demands to remove content or shut down accounts, often without carefully checking if the action is justified. She pointed to the case of Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a Tanzanian activist whose Meta accounts were temporarily restricted after a request linked to the government. Owono warned that these actions can have serious consequences for online freedom.
Owono urged companies to base all content removal decisions on three key principles: legality, necessity, and proportionality. She questioned whether removing a person's account is acceptable simply because they criticized election results.
A global crisis with African implications
The decline in internet freedom is not unique to Africa. Owono said a global pattern is emerging, as noted in reports like Freedom House’s annual Freedom on the Net. These documents have tracked a steady worldwide decline in online rights. She also criticized attempts by non-African governments to expand surveillance powers. For instance, the UK’s push to gain access to encrypted Apple iCloud data exemplifies how security concerns can be used as a reason to erode basic freedoms.
Owono called on African lawmakers to deepen their knowledge of how digital platforms work. She encouraged them to work directly with tech companies to understand the systems they are trying to regulate. The goal, she said, should be to find a fair balance between preventing real online harm and protecting citizens’ right to speak freely. As internet use in Africa continues to rise, this balance will become even more important.