{"id":4998,"date":"2020-05-16T20:20:07","date_gmt":"2020-05-16T19:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/?p=4998"},"modified":"2020-05-16T20:20:12","modified_gmt":"2020-05-16T19:20:12","slug":"controls-to-manage-fake-news-in-africa-are-affecting-freedom-of-expression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/controls-to-manage-fake-news-in-africa-are-affecting-freedom-of-expression\/","title":{"rendered":"Controls to manage fake news in Africa are affecting freedom of expression"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Governments across the world are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside the mountain of related challenges, fake news has become a source of frustration. Some are now referring to this fake news phenomenon as a\u00a0\u2018disinfodemic\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purveyors of fake news are disseminating propaganda and disinformation. This has increased panic amongst the public and slowed the progress of the fight against the new coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018disinfodemic\u2019 has resulted in misinformed behaviours such as\u00a0drinking alcohol<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0applying heat<\/a>\u00a0to kill the virus. Some people were led to believe that the virus\u00a0only affects white people<\/a>, that testing kits\u00a0are contaminated<\/a>, and that vaccines are being\u00a0tested on Africans<\/a>\u00a0while the truth is that a vaccine has not yet been discovered in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other fake news purveyors purported that\u00a0shaving makes face masks more effective<\/a>,\u00a0made up riots<\/a>, and made\u00a0fake claims with falsified video evidence<\/a>\u00a0about Nigerians burning Chinese-owned shops in response to cases of harassment of Africans in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These instances are just the tip of the iceberg and governments have had to adopt and implement strict measures to combat the \u2018disinfodemic\u2019. Many have been able to contain fake news by warning or arresting those spreading it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in\u00a0Mauritius<\/a>, a man who falsely claimed that riots had erupted after the prime minister announced the closure of supermarkets and shops, was arrested under the Information and Communication Technology Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\u00a0South Africa<\/a>, authorities arrested people spreading the news that the virus was being spread by foreigners. And in\u00a0Kenya<\/a>, a 23-year-old man was arrested after he published false information with the intent to cause panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But these strict controls are also affecting the freedom of expression of people on the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fake news versus freedom of expression<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even before COVID-19, many African countries used libel and defamation laws, and\u00a0internet shut downs<\/a>\u00a0to limit the freedom of expression of citizens and the media. Some are examples are Cameroon, Ethiopia, Chad, Egypt and Uganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the advent of the new coronavirus, the pandemic is now being used as an excuse to further limit freedom of expression. In\u00a0Tunisia<\/a>\u00a0for example, two bloggers who criticised their government\u2019s response to COVID-19 were arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\u00a0Mauritius<\/a>, a woman who published a sarcastic meme against the government was arrested for spreading fake news. And in countries such as Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia and Zimbabwe, there are\u00a0increasing cases of arrests and attacks<\/a>\u00a0by law enforcement and security agencies on journalists covering the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These incidents act as a limitation to the freedom of expression of Africans, including that of the press. In this regard, on World Press Day \u2013 3 May \u2013 the\u00a0UN Secretary General<\/a>\u00a0emphasised the role of the press as an \u2018antidote\u2019 to the \u2018disinfodemic\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, international organisations such as the\u00a0World Health Organisation<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Human Rights Watch<\/a>\u00a0have adopted guidelines and checklists regarding the protection of human rights. This includes the freedom of expression as COVID-19 measures are implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also many laws at the global and regional level that require countries to uphold freedom of expression even in times of pandemics. That freedom can only be limited with justification for instance where news is proven to be fake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many of the arrests and attacks that are being made by government officials in different African countries are contrary to international conventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article 19<\/a>\u00a0of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects the universal freedom of expression but provides for limitations. Measures to contain fake news during COVID-19 are permissible under the protections of public health. However, these limitations do not apply when citizens critique the measures their governments have taken as long as they\u00a0do not spread fake news<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression\u00a0published <\/a>a report\u00a0last month on disease pandemics and freedom of opinion and expression. The Special Rapporteur emphasised that freedom of speech is critical to meeting the challenges of the outbreak<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report recommended that states must still apply the test of legality, necessity and proportionality before limiting freedom of expression even in cases of public health threats. This recommendation can still be used to combat fake news as long as the impact on freedom of expression is minimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the continental level, freedom of expression is protected by\u00a0Article 9<\/a>\u00a0of the African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights. The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa issued a recent\u00a0press statement<\/a>\u00a0expressing concerns about internet shutdowns in African countries in the time of COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement recommended that states guarantee respect and protection of the right to freedom of expression and access to information; this would be through access to the internet and social media services. The Special Rapporteur emphasised that states must not use COVID-19 as \u201can opportunity to establish overarching interventions\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the\u00a0African Commission recently published<\/a>\u00a0its Revised Declaration on Principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa. According to the Declaration, freedom of expression is an indispensable component of democracy. It states that no one should<\/p>\n\n\n\n

be found liable for true statements, expressions of opinion, or statements which are reasonable to make in the circumstances.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are binding on all African states except\u00a0Morocco<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0South Sudan<\/a>\u00a0respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, African nations must ensure that they protect freedom of expression even in times of a pandemic. This must be the case unless governments are genuinely containing fake news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

African states should adopt regulations that clearly define what constitutes fake news in relation to COVID-19. They must allow citizens and the media to express themselves. The measures being taken in response to COVID-19 must be debated without fear of frivolous charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, African governments must not use fake news during this pandemic as a shield to violate the freedom of expression of its citizens or settle old scores with the press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is republished from\u00a0The Conversation<\/a>\u00a0under a Creative Commons license. Read the\u00a0original article<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Governments across the world are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside the mountain of related challenges, fake news has become a source of frustration. Some are now referring to this fake news phenomenon as a\u00a0\u2018disinfodemic\u2019. Purveyors of fake news are disseminating propaganda and disinformation. This has increased panic amongst the public and slowed the progress of the fight against the new coronavirus pandemic. The \u2018disinfodemic\u2019 has resulted in misinformed behaviours such as\u00a0drinking alcohol\u00a0and\u00a0applying heat\u00a0to kill the virus. Some people were led to believe that the virus\u00a0only affects white people, that testing kits\u00a0are contaminated, and that vaccines are being\u00a0tested on Africans\u00a0while the truth is that a vaccine has not yet been discovered in Africa. Other fake news purveyors purported that\u00a0shaving makes face masks more effective,\u00a0made up riots, and made\u00a0fake claims with falsified video evidence\u00a0about Nigerians burning Chinese-owned shops in response to cases of harassment of Africans in China. These instances are just the tip of the iceberg and governments have had to adopt and implement strict measures to combat the \u2018disinfodemic\u2019. Many have been able to contain fake news by warning or arresting those spreading it. For example, in\u00a0Mauritius, a man who falsely claimed that riots had erupted after the prime minister announced the closure of supermarkets and shops, was arrested under the Information and Communication Technology Act. In\u00a0South Africa, authorities arrested people spreading the news that the virus was being spread by foreigners. And in\u00a0Kenya, a 23-year-old man was arrested after he published false information with the intent to cause panic. But these strict controls are also affecting the freedom of expression of people on the continent. Fake news versus freedom of expression Even before COVID-19, many African countries used libel and defamation laws, and\u00a0internet shut downs\u00a0to limit the freedom of expression of citizens and the media. Some are examples are Cameroon, Ethiopia, Chad, Egypt and Uganda. With the advent of the new coronavirus, the pandemic is now being used as an excuse to further limit freedom of expression. In\u00a0Tunisia\u00a0for example, two bloggers who criticised their government\u2019s response to COVID-19 were arrested. In\u00a0Mauritius, a woman who published a sarcastic meme against the government was arrested for spreading fake news. And in countries such as Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia and Zimbabwe, there are\u00a0increasing cases of arrests and attacks\u00a0by law enforcement and security agencies on journalists covering the pandemic. These incidents act as a limitation to the freedom of expression of Africans, including that of the press. In this regard, on World Press Day \u2013 3 May \u2013 the\u00a0UN Secretary General\u00a0emphasised the role of the press as an \u2018antidote\u2019 to the \u2018disinfodemic\u2019. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, international organisations such as the\u00a0World Health Organisation\u00a0and\u00a0Human Rights Watch\u00a0have adopted guidelines and checklists regarding the protection of human rights. This includes the freedom of expression as COVID-19 measures are implemented. There are also many laws at the global and regional level that require countries to uphold freedom of expression even in times of pandemics. That freedom can only be limited with justification for instance where news is proven to be fake. Protection Many of the arrests and attacks that are being made by government officials in different African countries are contrary to international conventions. Article 19\u00a0of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects the universal freedom of expression but provides for limitations. Measures to contain fake news during COVID-19 are permissible under the protections of public health. However, these limitations do not apply when citizens critique the measures their governments have taken as long as they\u00a0do not spread fake news. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression\u00a0published a report\u00a0last month on disease pandemics and freedom of opinion and expression. The Special Rapporteur emphasised that freedom of speech is critical to meeting the challenges of the outbreak. The report recommended that states must still apply the test of legality, necessity and proportionality before limiting freedom of expression even in cases of public health threats. This recommendation can still be used to combat fake news as long as the impact on freedom of expression is minimal. At the continental level, freedom of expression is protected by\u00a0Article 9\u00a0of the African Charter on Human and Peoples\u2019 Rights. The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa issued a recent\u00a0press statement\u00a0expressing concerns about internet shutdowns in African countries in the time of COVID-19. The statement recommended that states guarantee respect and protection of the right to freedom of expression and access to information; this would be through access to the internet and social media services. The Special Rapporteur emphasised that states must not use COVID-19 as \u201can opportunity to establish overarching interventions\u201d. And the\u00a0African Commission recently published\u00a0its Revised Declaration on Principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa. According to the Declaration, freedom of expression is an indispensable component of democracy. It states that no one should be found liable for true statements, expressions of opinion, or statements which are reasonable to make in the circumstances. The African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are binding on all African states except\u00a0Morocco\u00a0and\u00a0South Sudan\u00a0respectively. Thus, African nations must ensure that they protect freedom of expression even in times of a pandemic. This must be the case unless governments are genuinely containing fake news. African states should adopt regulations that clearly define what constitutes fake news in relation to COVID-19. They must allow citizens and the media to express themselves. The measures being taken in response to COVID-19 must be debated without fear of frivolous charges. Finally, African governments must not use fake news during this pandemic as a shield to violate the freedom of expression of its citizens or settle old scores with the press. This article is republished from\u00a0The Conversation\u00a0under a Creative Commons license. Read the\u00a0original article.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"hannibal_claim_source":"","hannibal_source_label":"","hannibal_card_color":"blue","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_bluesky_share_type":"","_mastodon_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[435,4],"tags":[1040,1044,204,347,1041,1042,1039,1043,1045],"verdict":[],"ppma_author":[1103],"class_list":["post-4998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-featured","tag-african-charter-on-human-and-peoples-rights","tag-disinformation","tag-fake-news","tag-featured","tag-free-press","tag-freedom-of-expression","tag-freedom-of-speech","tag-international-covenant-on-civil-and-political-rights","tag-the-conversation"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8R6dE-1iC","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":1103,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"ashwanee-budoo","display_name":"Ashwanee Budoo","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bba7cec5841fb1fda8a1b7c996684aa9d8ba47e978ff413ffb560513c22cb759?s=96&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/file-20200505-83721-8pm9vj.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4998\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4998"},{"taxonomy":"verdict","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verdict?post=4998"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=4998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}