5 Tools to fight internet censorship

Today South Africa is celebrating Human Rights Day. We’re celebrating the long road to democracy covered with sticks and stones leaving apartheid’s oppression behind us. The path we’ve tread has been a long one, but 18 years into our democracy we enjoy rights many others around the world are still denied. Freedom of speech and media freedom are some of the most important rights we’ve gained.

Man sitting on the ground using a laptop, in front of a convoy of army tanks. (Similar to the famous photo from Tiananmen Square)

Internet censorship is one arm of media censorship. (image: bestvpnservice.com)

However, if you look at Reporters Without Border’s annual freedom index released earlier this month, many African governments still deny democratic media coverage. Many journalists cannot report openly on what is happening in their country.

Technology could play a crucial role in helping journalists get the message out of what is happening in their countries. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of five programs journalists can use to get their stories out:

RiseUp

This email service allows you to send emails without the government monitoring your actions as the connection is encrypted. Journalists need safe and secure access to correspondents abroad if they want international media coverage of possible local atrocities.

Eraser

Government official knocking on your door as you’re working on a confidential file? Eraser allows journalists to secure delete files and invisible recoverable files from their computer should their laptop be seized.

Tor Internet Browser

This Mozilla Firefox-based browser allows users a secure tunnel to the internet, hiding your digital online identity in case you’re being monitored. There’s a portable edition available which users can run from a flash drive.

Cobian Backup

This program works on the same basis as file-sharing program Dropbox. Running in the background, users can quickly and effectively back up their data. Journalists can encrypt and decrypt files with this program if ever confidential files were to get ‘lost’.

Pidgin with OTR

Free open-source instant messenger allows users to connective to several instant messaging accounts and services. However, with the Off-the-Record (OTR) plugin, journalists can chat online with others truly ‘off-the-record’ as you enjoy a secure connection.

Nico Gous

March 21, 2012/by actualize

Connectivity, Originally posted on the GBI Portal

Cablegate on African broadband: Apr-Jun 2009 (Tunisia, Kenya, South Africa)

Quite a few WikiLeaks cables deal with the behind-the-scenes of African broadband affairs. The various dialogues regarding the telecoms situation in Africa are surprisingly detailed and often proceed for well over a dozen paragraphs. Essentially, the United States routinely monitored the economic prospects in each country and provided updates to Washington.

{WikiLeaks}

Using CablegateSearch.net we have listed the “juiciest” cables (if African broadband can be described as such), below. Many of the cables are extremely telling of what goes on behind closed doors and how the U.S. viewed African telecoms prospects from at least 2006-2009. The sentiments within the U.S. government probably still ring true today.

Summaries and notes will be listed in approximate reverse chronological order. Next up are three cables from April-June 2009. The main themes are censorship, undersea cables (SEACOM), and political engagement with social media:

Tunisia

Summary: Despite a global economic crisis, Tunisia’s IT sector continues to grow and contributes 10% of the GDP. Telecoms privatization is on the increase, but the Internet remains censored.
U.S. viewpoint: In general, Tunisia is moving in the “right direction.” Economic growth from domestic demand and the fact that Tunisia is close to meeting Internet goals are promising. However, quality of service still has weaknesses and government restrictions and censorship will potentially limit Internet penetration.

Notes:

The number of mobile phones surpassed the number of fixed line subscribers in 2003.
2.3 million Internet users as of August 2008, but only 365,000 subscribers.
ADSL connections expected to double from 2008 to 2009.
6,500 Tunisian websites by December 2008 (up 12% YoY).
Many coastal areas have broadband, but interior areas are behind.
2008: Goals set for one e-mail address for each citizen, 1 million computers by 2009, one public Internet center in each village by 2010.
Link: Tunisia’s It Sector Growing, But Some Challenges Remain, June 16, 2009

Kenya

Summary: The Seacom broadband cable will improve Internet access across East Africa. Competition will increase, access costs will decrease by 80%, and a knowledge-based society will be one step closer. Foreign investment will hit $10 billion.
U.S. viewpoint: Broadband is poised to arrive at Kenya in a hurry, with three fibre-optic links set to begin within a year. With a sound national ICT policy in place, along with a good BPO environment, Kenya is poised to become a global destination for business. E-government and e-learning will also blossom. Challenges are lack of trained personnel, lack of equipment, and the hard fact that many areas will still not have immediate access to the national fiber network.

Notes:

Seacom’s 1.28 terabits per second capacity will increase the average ISP bandwidth by 1000%.
The government has essentially completed a 5,000km national system to deliver the international bandwidth.
1Mbps costs $4,400-$5,000 but actual throughput is less.
Prices should decline, but will still exceed the international average rate by 33-66x.
Increased tax revenue can be invested in other sectors.
Link: Kenya’s New Broadband Infrastructure Promises Growth, May 15, 2009

South Africa

Summary: Political parties in South Africa are using the Internet to reach voters in advance of elections. Only 10% of the population is online, however, so the efforts may not be effective just yet. Mainstream parties have large Facebook presences, but reflect their community bases.
U.S. viewpoint: Obama’s 2008 election campaign caused South African political parties to focus more effort on appearing modern. However, these sites or social media feeds will not likely alter the outcome of the election. Little attention has been paid to mobile campaigns, for example. Still, privatization, broadband, and the 2010 World Cup will contribute to the adoption of online political movements.

Notes:

90% mobile penetration, 10.5% Internet penetration (grew 12.5% in 2008).
The ANC website lacks current election information.
The Democratic Alliance has a more substantial web presence, including blogs and Facebook activity.
Other parties have sites with varying levels of interaction.
U.S. follows South African political Twitter accounts.
Link: South African Political Parties Have Embraced Social Media, But Is Anyone Listening?, April 20, 2009

Tentative Post Schedule:
9/8/11: (2009) Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia
9/9/11: South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania
9/10/11: Tunisia, Kenya, South Africa
9/12/11:(2008) Senegal, South Africa, Uganda
9/14/11: (2007) Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya
9/18/11: Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Kenya
9/19/11: (2006) Kenya, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia