Constitutional law and internet regulation in Africa

Examining legal tensions in Zimbabwe and Rwanda

Bibliographic Data

ID2141297
AuthorsLloyd T Chigowe (0000-0002-9833-0918, Stellenbosch University, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume59
Issue2
Pages1-20
Publication date2025-05-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCanadian Journal of African Studies / Revue canadienne des études africaines (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0008-3968 • E-ISSN: 1923-3051
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00083968.2025.2492838
OpenAlexW4412759584
LanguageEN
References cited18

The internet has had an enormous impact on the social, political and economic lives of many people in Africa. One notable impact has been its ability to open up space for democratic participation. The internet has demonstrated its potential to enable the enjoyment of freedom of association, expression and opinion, which is essential for democratic participation. Yet access to these benefits is under threat, as many governments have responded by adopting draconian legislation, policies and practices aimed at suppressing democratic participation. The purpose of this paper is to examine the legality of various legislations, policies and practices that have been adopted by African states to regulate cyberspace, and to what extent they are consistent with the African Union's legal instruments. It proposes measures that the African continent can adopt to advance democracy through enabling access to cyberspace

Political science · The Internet · Computer Science · Freedom of Expression and Defamation · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Law · Media Influence and Politics