The 2024 Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa: A Call to Action for Democratizing the Internet
In a significant milestone, the 2024 Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) was held from September 25-27 in Dakar, Senegal, marking the first time the event was hosted in Francophone Africa. This 11th edition of the forum brought critical attention to the state of digital democracy in the region, covering essential topics such as human rights, online freedom of expression, and enhancing internet access for people with disabilities. The discussions sparked vibrant debates and high expectations for public policies that would enhance internet freedom.
Internet access remains a pressing challenge in many parts of Africa, where high costs and limited coverage prevent many from benefiting fully. Cheikh Fall, president of AfricTivistes, co-organizer of the forum with CIPESA, stressed the urgency: "Africa missed out on past technological revolutions; it can’t afford to miss the internet revolution." FIFAfrica is Africa’s largest event focused on digital rights, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss gaps, challenges, and opportunities for advancing online privacy, free expression, civic participation, and innovation.
Public officials, service providers, and tech companies were urged to collaborate on making the internet more accessible. Cyriac Gbogou, vice president of AfricTivistes, emphasized that governments must recognize the digital economy’s potential to generate value and increase GDP, and invest or work with major internet providers to reduce taxes and improve user access.
Participants expressed high hopes for public policies that would enhance internet freedom. Dominique Hodieb, a digital strategy consultant, expects governments to create policies and collaborate with firms to ensure access to the internet is expanded and regulated. However, content regulation remains a significant hurdle in democratizing the internet. In several African countries, the internet is often used as a tool to manage social unrest, leading to censorship, arrests, and shutdowns.
The forum highlighted the importance of inclusive internet governance, where governments, service providers, and tech companies must work together to ensure that the internet is a powerful tool for driving socio-economic and political development on the continent. With FIFAfrica 2024, the stage is set for Africa to seize the opportunity to democratize the internet and unlock its vast potential for growth and development.
