IGF 2025 Lightning Talk #213 Africa Coalition on Spyware & Surveillance Accountability

    PolicyLab Africa
    Peter Mmbando, Digital Agenda for Tanzania, Africa IGF Charles Ikem, PolicyLab Africa, Africa IGF Wisdom Nji, SMSwithoutBorders, Africa IGF Lucy Ezemba, PolicyLab Africa, Africa IGF
    Speakers
    Peter Mmbando, Digital Agenda for Tanzania, Africa IGF Charles Ikem, PolicyLab Africa, Africa IGF Wisdom Nji, SMSwithoutBorders, Africa IGF Lucy Ezemba, PolicyLab Africa, Africa IGF
    Onsite Moderator
    Theorose Elikplim Dzineku, Digispace Africa
    Rapporteur
    Lucy Ezemba
    SDGs
    9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
    16.10


    Targets: The session addresses the issue of safe access to information online. This relates to SDG 16 and correlates highly with SDG 16.10 on Ensuring public access to information, and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. The session will present and discuss the growing threats of mercenary spyware and surveillance across Afric and explore the legal, regulatory environment including technical support for local CSOs.
    Format
    Presentation and Question & Answers
    Duration (minutes)
    30
    Description
    The Africa Coalition on Spyware and Surveillance Accountability is a member-led initiative that aims to address the growing threat of mercenary spyware and surveillance abuse across Africa. It addresses critical challenges posed by spyware and state-led surveillance. The session will present the agenda for how the coalition will monitor and report on the use of spyware while providing essential support to victims. This presentation will include feature ideas for technical diagnostics, intelligence research, and threat analysis to combat the misuse of surveillance technologies.

    The session will moderate and also attend to questions from online audience.