Digital rights

Digital rights refers to your right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas online, without fear or restriction from surveillance, censorship or laws silencing dissent.

As people turn to digital environments as a way of expressing views they may not feel safe expressing through other channels, more and more governments are using legislation, including privacy and national security laws, to gain control over digital spaces and infrastructure.

In addition, rights such as the right to privacy online have not yet been entrenched in the minds and actions of many citizens and yet citizens across the continent are using various technological services (email, social networking, banking etc.) every day, without adequate safeguards.

Digital rights news from our chapters

MISA Zimbabwe 2022 State of the Media Report (Now Available)

MISA Zimbabwe 2022 State of the Media Report (Now Available)

Introduction As the year under review drew to a close, Zimbabwe hosted the belated commemorations of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists in the resort town of Victoria Falls on 11 -12 November 2022. The event, which coincided with the...

World Press Freedom Day Commemorations – 30 years on!

World Press Freedom Day Commemorations – 30 years on!

MISA retrospect and the future of expression in the age of fragmentation! By Tabani Moyo  This year marks significant milestones on two fronts as we commemorate the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) and the 75th anniversary of the Universal...

MISA Regional World Press Freedom Day Statement

MISA Regional World Press Freedom Day Statement

Media freedom and freedom of expression are increasingly facing challenges in Southern Africa as countries in the region enact laws that have an adverse effect on these rights. In the past decade, Southern Africa made tremendous strides in improving the media freedom...