African Jitters Over Blogs and Social Media

The Arab spring uprisings let loose a cry over social media and on the streets for better governance. African governments have since turned to any means necessary to censor criticism in blogs or social media, reports the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, working with Google’s South Africa office. Of the Africans with internet access, 80 percent rely on mobile phone, reports BBC’s Karen Allen. Telecommunications are licensed, regulated and monitored by governments that claim national-security concerns. Hackers and government officials can track critics online or use geographic locators to follow daily routines. Authorities rely on virus and spyware – supplied by China, according to some accounts – that’s can damage systems, eliminate content or send out fake reports, Allen reports. It’s alleged that Tanzania “cloned” the Swahili version of WikiLeaks – JamiiForums – to disrupt reports of wrongdoing. Online journalists are “rapidly becoming the voices of dissent,” Allen concludes, and they’re now the targets of ruthless governments. – YaleGlobal