African Cyber Research

Disinformation Colonialism and African Internet Policy
Russia’s recent disinformation campaign in African countries highlights the challenges that African states face in crafting internet policy that is responsive to both external threats and internal political dynamics. African countries will likely not push back against Russian disinformation campaigns, but rather will try to exploit the campaigns for their own international and domestic political goals. 

African Union Bugged by China: Cyber Espionage as Evidence of Strategic Shifts
A number of African leaders have turned to Chinese investment as a viable alternative to Western development aid. The recent allegations of Chinese cyberespionage of the African Union’s headquarters might prompt them to reconsider. 

South Africa Introduces Revised Cybercrime Legislation, Acknowledging Criticism
South Africa’s legislation models a “third way” of approaching cybercrime. South Africa’s government recognizes the importance of legal harmonization, making important adjustments to domestic cybercrime law, while still formally avoiding multilateral institutions that could impinge on its sovereignty.

Africans Want Cross-Border Data Access Reform, But They Might Get Left Out
Countries left out of the MLAT reform movement will have few viable options for accessing data and may turn to damaging alternatives.

Cyber Diplomacy with Africa: Lessons From the African Cybersecurity Convention
Despite currently limited uptake, the Convention, and how the AU produced it, signals that African states value political autonomy and independence when developing cyber policy.

The African Internet Governance Forum: Continued Discomfort with Multistakeholderism
The 2015 African IGF saw increased participation by high-level African government officials. But the government representatives were still hesitant to support the IGF’s guiding concept, multistakeholder governance.

The African Union Cybersecurity Convention: A Missed Human Rights Opportunity
with Fadzai Madzingira
Serious concerns remain about the Convention’s human rights implications, particularly about provisions that might support discrimination and expand government power.