In a joint statement, Transparency International and Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI Z) have expressed deep concerns over attempts by theZimbabwean government to fast-track the Cyber Cecurity and Data Protection Bill. According to the civil society groups, although the bill appears to be progressive in strengthening data protection, it contains provisions that undermine the freedom of [...]

Speaking at the international conference ‘Seizing Digital Opportunities for Cooperation and Development’, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the Global Initiative on Data Security. In the context of a 'new development of international division of labor', the initiative emphasises the importance of maintaining the supply-chain security of ICT products and services as [...]

The Thirty-fifth Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 35) was convened virtually between 1-4 September 2020 where governments, civil society organisations, and the private sector underscored the importance of innovation, solidarity, coherence, and partnerships among and within countries. During the event, participants acknowledged how agricultural [...]

Human rights groups are concerned about the shrinking civic space as Tanzania heads to elections on 28 October 2020. The Human Rights Watch notes that authorities have been cracking down on opposition leaders and civil society groups both online and offline. The government prohibited speech related to the economy or national security issues in August. [...]

Liberty, a UK-based civil society group, has announced having won a ground-breaking legal challenge against police use of facial recognition technology (FRT). The Court of Appeal agreed with Liberty’s submissions, on behalf of a Cardiff resident, and found the South Wales Police’s use of FTR breaches privacy rights, data protection laws, and equality laws. According [...]

The UN has kicked off an online platform called ‘2030 Connect’ to promote science, technology, and innovation (STI) for sustainable development. The platform, which targets policymakers, practitioners, students, civil society among other stakeholders; seeks to provide a one-stop-shop for identifying expertise and networks of the UN system and its partners. Additionally, the platform has a [...]

The High Court of Zimbabwe has granted an injunction halting a warrant for seizure of Econet Wireless entire customer database. This followed an application by Econet Wireless as well as civil society organisations Media Institute of southern Africa-Zimbabwe Chapter (Misa-Zimbabwe) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights). The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe alleges that Econet’s [...]

The High Court of Zimbabwe has granted an injunction halting a warrant for seizure of the entire customer database of Econet Wireless. This followed an application by Econet Wireless, and civil society organisations the Media Institute of Southern Africa’s Zimbabwe Chapter (Misa-Zimbabwe) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (Zimrights). The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe alleges [...]

The official launch of the Global Acceleration Framework for Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation)  took place during the 2020 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLFP). The SDG 6 framework mobilises UN agencies, governments, the civil society, private sector, and other stakeholders to drive progress on water and sanitation issues. The framework [...]

A recent study shows that 30% of K-12 public school students and 10% of teachers in the US don't participate in online learning either because of lack of Internet-connected devices or connectivity, or both. Out of 50 million students who had to take classes from home due to COVID-19 outbreak, 15-16 million do not have devices needed [...]