Today I write, briefly, not about innovation or technology, but about blogging in Africa. The BBC have reported on popular Nigerian blogger Abubakar Sidiq Usman’s arrest for “offences bordering on cyber stalking”. He is the third blogger to be arrested in Nigeria since 2015, under the Cyber Crime Act.
His arrest came after making allegations against the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the department that arrested him. The blogger has now been released on bail, after a massive campaign from his many supporters.
I am not willing to make a judgement as to whether or not his arrest was justified, but I think it is important that Bloggers and Journalists are offered more protection. If bloggers must sensor themselves to be assured of their safety, then it undermines democracy and the right of people to receive information from point of view.
This article gives a little more info about Internet censorship in Africa.
Whilst this may not be my usual topic, the internet is at the heart of much innovation in Africa. Bloggers share information about innovation, as well as other news, which is not only important for those in Africa. Promoting the potential of Africa is important for investors from all over the world. Censorship puts this at risk.
inventiveafrica.com 