Information Policy

Internet Governance Outlook 2017: Nationalistic Hierarchies vs. Multistakeholder Networks?

By Wolfgang Kleinwächter

Two events, which made headlines in the digital world in 2016, will probably frame the Internet Governance Agenda for 2017. October 1, 2016, the US government confirmed the IANA Stewardship transition to the global multistakeholder community. November 2, 2016, the Chinese government announced the adoption of a new cybersecurity law which will enter into force on July 1, 2017.

More Than 50 Internet Shutdowns in 2016

By Lyndal Rowlands

Governments around the world shut down the internet more than 50 times in 2016 – suppressing elections, slowing economies and limiting free speech.

Does online activism work? Is its impact positive for society?

Online activism (a.k.a. Internet activism, web activism or cyberactivism) emerged in the early 1990s in the USA and later spread very quickly to all developed countries. It initially consisted of mass email and E-bulletin board campaigns. Later, organisations such as Avaaz, Change.org, MoveOn.org and 38 Degrees brought civic engagement to a new level and put online activism at the center of political and business decisions. This very platform, Netivist, aims at contributing to the same goal. Online activism via petitions and campaigns has become an effective way to raise awareness about about important political, economic, cultural and social problems and challenges society is facing. Online activism can be used for advocacy or awareness purposes, to collect donations, as a means to foster coordination and mobilization of activists and supporters of a cause, and as an expression of collective unrest and protest.

Turkey: 'Worst country' for media freedom in 2016

Turkey jailed more journalists than any other country this year. According to the Turkish Journalists' Association, 148 journalists are currently imprisoned and many media outlets have been shut down.

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Charles Mabhena

The recent slam on the so-called social media abuse by President Robert Mugabe should be taken seriously, as his words are not mere words, but, a command to his ministers.

The Zimbabweans should bear in mind that this has a strong bearing to their freedoms of access to information and expression respectively.

Zimbabwe : Internet governance should be a collective effort

Charles Mabhena

The recent slam on the so-called social media abuse by President Robert Mugabe should be taken seriously, as his words are not mere words, but, a command to his ministers.

The Zimbabweans should bear in mind that this has a strong bearing to their freedoms of access to information and expression respectively.