Tanzania’s social media policing increases the risks of government abuse

África/Tanzania/Octubre 2016/Noticias/http://theconversation.com/

Access to digital information and communications technologies has increased dramatically over the past decade across Africa. In Tanzania, 87% of urban residents report using a mobile phone every day. In addition, 34% of the population access the internet. The vast majority use their mobile phones to do so.

However, widening access to technological innovations can also expose people to risks. Governments across the region are debating how to respond to new challenges. These include online fraud and the dissemination of hate speech through SMS or social media.

My recent field work in the Tanzanian city of Mwanza suggests that “misuse” of digital platforms is a concern in densely populated low-income areas. Here “cybercrime” is often used to refer to insults and obscene language used over the phone or on social media.

A ban on all political meetings, which has since been partially rescinded, the frequent arrest of opposition politicians and the closure of media outlets have raised concerns that democracy may be a casualty of Magufuli’s pursuit of development.

Fuente:

http://theconversation.com/tanzanias-social-media-policing-increases-the-risks-of-government-abuse-67478

Fuente Imagen:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3kefmNxr7uaHQEzxRUPwgcgYaWSHc7uF7FMYGftBdRLsZtmkQlaR9KyLT8y-gKW0IRVMAg=s85