Let’s be honest.
When was the last time you read “Terms and Conditions” before you signed up for a new service online?
We don’t blame you. It’s easy to get lost in the legal jargon.
But do you know what happens to your personal data every time you click on “I have agreed to terms and conditions”? Now think about what happens to your data when you sign up for a national ID, when you vote, when you complain about public services?
Let’s find out.
The right to privacy refers to the concept that one’s personal information is protected from public scrutiny. It is essentially, your right to be left alone. Privacy is a core aspect of human dignity and values such as freedom of association and freedom of speech.
“I have nothing to hide!”
What is Data Privacy?
Data privacy focuses on the use and governance of personal data. This includes the collection, usage and sharing of YOUR personal data by companies, or even the government.
We all have secrets. Some big, some small.
Imagine that you confide a secret in your closest friend, and this friend then either uses this information to make judgements on you or goes so far as to share it with other people. The other people then use your secret to manipulate you.
That’s really what’s happening with your personal data.
How do your Digital Rights affect your Participation as a Citizen?
Oftentimes, elections in African countries have suffered from threats to democracy, ranging from violence and intimidation to vote rigging and fraud. Citizens have historically been disempowered in political participation and access to information. Technology has revolutionized how citizens can democratically engage with political processes across the continent.
However, there is increasing state regulation and extension of control over the internet, including recent internet shutdowns and oppressive cybercrime laws. Unfortunately, African countries lack the necessary mechanisms for the inclusive participation of citizens and other stakeholders in the processes of formulating the very laws on internet and digital rights that directly affect them. For example, your ballots when you vote might not be secret, or your private health data at your hospital might not be adequately secured. This is worrying for us all.
But, we are not powerlessness. The more we know, the better we can defend our rights.
Learn more about Censorship, Surveillance and Digital Security below.
