Cybersecurity company Surfshark conducted a study analyzing UN countries’ stances in the 2021 UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolution on the promotion, protection, and enjoyment of human rights on the internet.

By comparing countries’ stances with data from Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker, Surfshark was able to identify 5 African countries that claimed to support the resolution but “broke their word” by imposing internet restrictions.

In today’s world, internet shutdowns have become a major concern. Authoritarian governments frequently employ them as a means to manipulate the public and stifle free speech.

The UN resolution on human rights on the internet aims to make countries openly condemn these shutdowns and other ways of restricting online speech. However, it’s concerning that even though five African countries publicly supported the resolution, they still imposed internet restrictions.

It’s important to promote an open and accessible internet and pressure countries to uphold their commitments regarding human rights online”,

– says Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske, Surfshark spokeswoman.

The African countries that supported the 2021 UN resolution but “broke their word” were Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Somalia, and Nigeria:

Nine countries from other continents also “broke their word”: India, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Armenia, Indonesia, and Ukraine.

Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker reveals that there were a total of 58 internet disruptions in these 14 countries during or after the adoption of the resolution.

India stands out as the country that has “broken its word” the most, with 19 internet disruptions since the resolution’s adoption in 2021 (if we included the Jammu & Kashmir region, this number would be even higher).

The Human Rights Council convenes at least three regular sessions annually. The upcoming 53rd session is scheduled for the summer of 2023.

While the agenda of the specific resolution is currently unknown, Surfshark will keep an eye out for any updates regarding upcoming UN resolutions on human rights on the internet.

With a population of over 220 million, according to Worldometer, there were just 122.5 million internet users in Nigeria as at January 2023, Datareportal revealed. Nigeria’s internet penetration rate stood at 55.4 percent of the total population at the start of 2023.

However, the question remains: can free internet in public places work in a country like Nigeria? Free internet in public places has already been implemented in some countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, and some parts of Europe. 

The idea behind this is to make the internet more accessible to people who may not be able to afford it, and to bridge the digital divide. In Nigeria, where internet penetration is still low and the cost of data is high, free internet in public places could help to increase access to information and services.

However, several challenges need to be addressed before this limitless internet access in public places can become a reality in Nigeria. 

Infrastructure 

The first challenge is infrastructure. Nigeria’s internet infrastructure is still underdeveloped, and there are many areas where there is little or no internet connectivity. In order to provide free internet in public places, there needs to be a reliable and robust internet infrastructure that can support the increased demand.

Funding

Another challenge is funding, as such move will require a significant investment from the government or private sector. In a country like Nigeria where resources are limited, it may be difficult to find the funding needed to implement such a project.

The cost of maintaining and sustaining free internet in public places is also a challenge, as the government may not be able to sustain the service in the long run.

Security

Security is also a concern. Providing free and limitless internet in public places could make it easier for cybercriminals to target unsuspecting users. There need to be adequate security measures in place to protect users from cyber threats.

Despite these challenges, there are some potential benefits to providing free internet in public places in Nigeria. For example, it could help to increase access to education and information, as well as improve communication and collaboration among citizens. Entrepreneurs and small businesses can take advantage of the opportunities that the internet provides to grow their businesses. This would, in turn, create more job opportunities and increase the country’s GDP. It could also boost tourism by providing free internet to visitors in tourist hotspots.

In conclusion, free internet in public places has the potential to improve access to information and services in Nigeria. However, these challenges need to be addressed before it can become a reality. 

The government and private sector need to work together to address these challenges and find a sustainable way to make this happen. With the right investment and support, free internet in public places could help to bridge the digital divide and improve the lives of millions of Nigerians, a game-changer for the country.