In a disheartening revelation, a recent study conducted by Surfshark, a cybersecurity firm, uncovers that despite their commitment to a United Nations resolution supporting free internet, five African countries have imposed a total of 16 internet restrictions since the pledge was made.
The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on “the promotion, protection, and enjoyment of human rights on the internet” in July 2021, with strong support from a core group of countries including Brazil, Nigeria, Sweden, Tunisia, and the United States. The resolution aimed to safeguard human rights in the online sphere and garnered sponsorship from 70 countries worldwide.
The study analyzed the positions of countries involved in the 2021 UN Human Rights Council Resolution by comparing their stances with data from the Internet Shutdown Tracker. The findings revealed that five African countries, which had publicly voiced their support for the resolution, contradicted their commitment by imposing restrictions on internet access.
The African countries found to be defaulting on their pledge are Nigeria, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Somalia. Notably, Nigeria had banned Twitter a month before the resolution’s adoption in June 2021, and this restriction lasted until January 2022.
Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske, a spokeswoman for Surfshark, expressed concern over the prevalence of internet shutdowns, which are often employed by authoritarian governments to manipulate public opinion and curtail free speech. The UN resolution aimed to condemn these shutdowns and other forms of online speech restrictions. However, the study highlights the troubling fact that even though five African countries publicly supported the resolution, they still resorted to imposing internet restrictions. It underscores the need to advocate for an open and accessible internet and exert pressure on countries to honor their commitments regarding human rights online.
The report indicates that Sudan has broken its pledge the most among African countries, with nine instances of internet disruptions occurring after its support for the 2021 resolution. Burkina Faso follows closely with four restrictions in place since the resolution’s adoption, including an ongoing restriction on Facebook implemented in 2022. Mauritania and Somalia each had one internet restriction after endorsing the resolution. Mauritania enforced a mobile internet restriction during a prison riot, while Somalia experienced an internet blackout following the parliament’s vote to remove the prime minister.
The study also identified nine countries from other continents that failed to uphold their commitment: India, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Armenia, Indonesia, and Ukraine.
According to Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker, a total of 58 internet disruptions occurred in 14 countries during or after the adoption of the resolution. India stands out as the country with the highest number of internet disruptions since the resolution’s adoption in 2021, recording 19 instances. It is important to note that this number would increase significantly if the Jammu and Kashmir region were included.
The UN Human Rights Council convenes regular sessions at least three times a year, with the upcoming 53rd session scheduled to take place between June and July 2023.