Internet access
This entry dives into the politics of internet access across the African continent. The internet has been seen as an important tool for political and civic participation in addition to its role in enabling economic development. However, the potential of the internet can be considered only after contextualising how African citizens access the internet, from sharing devices to relying on limited, but free, internet versions provided by big technology companies. Additionally, African governments have become well versed in deploying an arsenal of measures to control internet access, for example completely shutting down the internet, blocking specific social media services, or introducing taxation targeting the use of the internet. These measures are sometimes justified by governments as tools to combat hate speech and dis/misinformation, which are real challenges for many African countries. However, little is known on the effects of these types of measures on African citizens’ internet use – including for political participation.
https://www.elgaronline.com/display/book/9781035309306/chapter40.xml?tab_body=abstract-copy1
