Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
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Dear Reader, The year 2025 started on a rough patch, mostly due to funding cuts and a challenging operating environment for the non-profit sector and civil society organisations. We are grateful to all our funders, partners and key stakeholders who supported us, ensuring our work continued. As we conclude our activities for 2025, we would like to further extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for staying with us throughout the year. Guided by our Strategic Management Plan, we advanced digital rights, expanded digital inclusion, and strengthened accountability in the digital space across East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa and Francophone Africa regions. We built the capacities through our digital rights academy programme, engaged law and policy makers, filed cases in various courts within the region to challenge internet shutdowns and data breaches, among others, employed strategic storytelling around our work and conducted research on key issues within the sector. For us at Paradigm Initiative, this has been a year of measurable growth, impact, innovation and learning, thanks to your support and regular feedback. As we close the curtains, we take a brief look at what these key wins have been for you and for us and how you can help us to build on this momentum for even greater impact next year.
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Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
Leading Malawi
data privacy charge in
We opened the year with a call for privacy in Malawi. In January, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) and other members of the Net Rights Coalition (NRC) joined calls to stop the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) from procuring a $1.5 million (K2.6 billion) system designed to combat misinformation and disinformation on digital platforms. In an open letter addressed to Macra’s director general, Daud Suleman, we argued that the procurement of surveillance technologies posed a threat to freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to privacy. This set the pace for what was to become a challenging year, where some nations on the continent struggled with maintaining privacy and freedom of expression on the internet.
internet access in Kenya. After the case was filed, High Court Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued orders stopping all the parties that have been sued from interfering with internet access until the case is heard and determined. This order safeguarded Kenyans from arbitrary shutdowns and restrictions pending the determination of the case. This legal action was a response to credible evidence of deliberate interference, including internet throttling and the blocking of the Social Media platform, Telegram, during the 2023 #RejectFinanceBill protests and the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Examinations. The evidence of the Internet disruptions, in this case, was provided by Cloudflare, IODA and The Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI). See details.
Calling for the safety of bloggers in Kenya
Protecting the rights to connect in Kenya Still in strategic litigation, we joined six other organisations to file a landmark public interest case challenging the unlawful disruption of
Earlier this year, a new report on the State of Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya showed an increase in the number of deaths, abductions and arrests of bloggers and activists in Kenya in 2024. The report titled Devolved Impunity: The Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya (2019–2024) produced by Paradigm Initiative, Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) and Article 19 Eastern Africa, mapped violations between 2019 and 2024. While legal platforms have expanded the space for free expression, the report revealed, Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
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bloggers face increasing risks, including harassment, surveillance, arbitrary arrests and cyber threats. It was a call for not just Kenyan authorities, but for the entire Eastern African region to re-evaluate its standards and provide a safer atmosphere for bloggers
Keeping the internet Cameroon and Tanzania
open
in
2025 was a particularly challenging year for internet connectivity in the East and Central African regions. We condemned the prolonged disruptions in Cameroon, highlighting their negative impact on access to information, communication, and digital rights, and offered pre-electoral support to journalists and activists. In Tanzania, we not only condemned the shutdowns but also provided data-driven insights on the estimated economic losses caused by these disruptions, underlining the high social and financial costs of restricting online access. Our interventions in both cases emphasised that internet access is a fundamental right and a critical enabler for economic, social, and political participation in every society.
delegates from 65 countries across the world being represented at the event. Key highlights included the launch of the 2024 Londa report on digital rights and inclusion in Africa with a score index ranking countries by performance; the premiere of our fifth short film, Whispers in the Wires which has now won at least four major continental and global awards; and the announcement of the book ‘The Paradigm Initiative Story: A Work in Progress,’ detailing the road traveled by Paradigm Initiative so far in our journey towards a digitally inclusive and rights-respecting world. Thanks to your support, participation, and engagement, DRIF25 ranked as the second most trending topic during the event. As we look back in appreciation, we are hopeful you will join us to make DRIF26 even bigger. Share your session proposal here.
From our biggest DRIF yet to our biggest ever
The Londa Score Index: Measuring Digital Rights across Africa
The second quarter of the year was dominated by the 2025 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF25), which took place in Lusaka, Zambia. DRIF25 featured 122 sessions with
In 2025, Paradigm Initiative launched the Londa24 Report, a comprehensive analysis of the state of digital rights and inclusion across Africa. The report examines trends, challenges,
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Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
and progress in areas such as privacy, freedom of expression, access to information, and digital governance, providing actionable insights for policymakers, civil society, and digital rights advocates. This year, we also introduced the Londa Score Index, a first-ofits-kind tool that ranks countries based on their performance in protecting and promoting digital rights. By providing a clear, data-driven benchmark, the Index enables stakeholders to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and hold governments accountable for their commitments to rights-respecting digital policies. Check out the report and let us know where your country ranks on the Index.
Celebrating the WSIS Outcome Document win for digital rights Paradigm Initiative proudly celebrates the adoption of the Outcome Document from the UN General Assembly’s high-level review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), recognising the role we played throughout the process. By submitting feedback and engaging with Co-Facilitators, PIN contributed to key inclusions that reaffirm a rights-based, inclusive information society. For the everyday internet user, the Outcome Document matters because it sets a global framework for how governments and companies should respect digital rights, protect privacy, keep the internet open, and ensure that everyone can access and benefit from digital technologies safely and fairly. It also opposes harmful practices such as internet shutdowns and unlawful surveillance, helping ensure that digital spaces remain a platform for learning, work, communication, and civic participation. PIN also urges UN Member States and private actors to translate these commitments into concrete, enforceable actions for the benefit of their citizens.
The Paradigm Initiative Story: A Work in Progress After nearly 20 years of existence, what Paradigm Initiative is today is a product of the numerous challenges the organisation has faced and the lessons it has learned. From operating from a cyber cafe in Ajegunle, Nigeria, to now operating from six African countries and having an impact in many more, the road travelled is documented in a new book by our Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, titled ‘The Paradigm Initiative Story: A Work in Progress.’ First announced at DRIF25, the hardcover version of the book is now available and can be purchased here.
Combating disinformation in West and Central Africa The proliferation of disinformation, which has a global reach, continues to pose a growing challenge to societies worldwide, disrupting social cohesion and undermining democratic institutions. In West and Central Africa, where diverse linguistic, social, and political landscapes intersect, the effects of misinformation are far-reaching, fostered by confirmation bias and the manipulation of public opinion. It is in this regard that Paradigm Initiative is leading the Countering Information Disorder in West and Central Africa project in Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal and South of the Sahara, supported by Canada’s International Development Research
Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
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Centre (IDRC). The project seeks to build the capacity of key actors through tailored training programmes and equipping them with tools to recognise, counter and mitigate the harms caused by disinformation.
Spreading the digital rights gospel through film
Building legislative capacity on digital rights Roping in lawmakers is crucial to fostering a shared understanding of digital rights and inclusion, and to ensuring that technologyrelated laws effectively protect people’s rights. In 2025, we advanced this goal through targeted legislative retreats designed to deepen legislators’ knowledge of digital governance and human rights. In Nigeria, we convened a retreat for members of the National Assembly and policy advisers, focusing on data protection, surveillance oversight, platform accountability, and emerging digital harms. The sessions encouraged practical reflection on how legislation can better safeguard fundamental rights while supporting innovation and inclusion. It also served as an opportunity to push for the revival of the country’s Digital Rights and Freedoms Bill. Our engagement also extended to Mombasa, Kenya, where we supported a similar retreat bringing together legislators to examine digital technologies in the context of democracy, elections, and internet freedom
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Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
Imagine a retired nurse going viral on social media and using her influence to advocate for digital inclusion in her community. That is the story of Mama Bibi, protagonist of our latest short film, Whispers in the Wires. The short film, one of our standout achievements this year, explores critical digital rights issues and the human stories behind them, using storytelling to drive awareness, empathy, and action. Whispers in the Wires has already received widespread recognition at the Lagos Advertising and Ideas (LAIF) Awards 2025, winning Gold for Film Craft / Best Production Design; Silver for Film LAIF and Bronze for Best Original Short Film. The movie also won Gold at the 2025 Summit Creative Awards, cementing its position as a valuable tool for impact and influence. Join over a million others who have streamed the short film online and tell us what you think. Watch here.
Confronting Gender-Based Violence in Digital Spaces Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) remained a critical focus of Paradigm Initiative’s work in 2025, as digital spaces increasingly mirrored and amplified offline gender inequalities. Through in-depth research on survivor-centred perspectives, we examined how women and internet users in general across six African countries Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia
and Zimbabwe - experience harassment, abuse, surveillance, and threats online. A key finding of the study is that young people are disproportionately affected, with those aged 18–34 constituting the vast majority of survivors. The study also highlights that formal systems such as the police, employers, and public institutions, remain underutilised, largely due to fear, mistrust, or an expectation of inaction. While the findings expose wideranging gaps across platforms, institutions, and legal frameworks, they also highlight survivors’ resilience and their continued efforts to seek safer digital environments. Check out the full report.
DREAMing of rights-respecting elections in Africa In 2025, the Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Monitor (DREAM) played a critical role in advancing rights-respecting electoral processes across the continent. Through DREAM, we monitored elections in multiple countries, tracking the use of digital
technologies during electoral periods and assessing their impact on fundamental rights. The initiative served as a tool to monitor, analyse and identify electionrelated risks such as online disinformation, digital surveillance, internet disruptions, and platform accountability gaps. By engaging stakeholders and amplifying evidence-based recommendations, DREAM strengthened advocacy for transparent, inclusive, and digital rights-respecting elections in Africa.
Deepening Digital Rights Engagement in Francophone Africa Another key win for Paradigm Initiative in 2025 was our increased engagement in Frenchspeaking African countries. In Senegal, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Commission de Protection des Données Personnelles (CDP) of Senegal to advance data protection and digital inclusion in the West African nation. In Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, we organised the Digital Rights Academy, Digital Rights and Elections in Africa Monitor (DREAM) and the Digital Policy Engagement Series (DiPES). Our team also participated in multiple physical and virtual engagements across Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Togo. The year 2026 promises to be even bigger and better, as we host the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF26) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
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Training media to understand and report digital rights
and legal practitioners to share insights and best practices across the region.
As part of activities for the year, we continue to celebrate the Digital Rights Academy, a cornerstone of Paradigm Initiative’s capacitybuilding work in 2025. Delivered across Uganda, Senegal, South Sudan, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Namibia, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, The Gambia, Cameroon, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Togo, the Academy focused primarily on media practitioners and journalists. Through hands-on sessions, participants gained a strong foundation in digital rights, sharpened their ability to report accurately and responsibly on digital issues, and strengthened their capacity to advocate for rights-respecting digital spaces. By investing in journalists and storytellers across the continent, the Digital Rights Academy continues to amplify informed reporting on digital rights and inclusion in Africa.
Driving policy change research and reports
Engagements with the judiciary Another key component of our work this year was a deepening of engagement with the judiciary across Africa through sessions meant to strengthen collaboration and knowledge-sharing to promote human rights and digital rights in judicial processes. Thanks to the Stemming the Tide of Abuse in Nigeria’s Digital Space (STANDS) supported by the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria, we worked closely with Nigerian judges to develop the Ikot Ekpene Declaration, a landmark framework aimed at enhancing judicial understanding and enforcement of digital rights. Beyond STANDS, our engagement produced additional outputs aimed at reinforcing justice and human rights standards. Most recently, the Accra Communiqué, was birthed through our Judicial Exchange on Human Rights and Human Rights Adjudication in Accra, Ghana, in a convening that brought together judges 8
Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
through
Throughout the year, PIN continued to provide critical insights into the digital rights landscape through our research and reports. From examining Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), to assessing digital rights and elections in Africa, and exploring emerging policy and governance challenges on biometric ID systems and more, our publications have informed advocacy, policy discussions, and public awareness across the Global South. Each report reflects our commitment to evidence-based action, amplifying the voices of those most affected by digital rights issues. Check out our research outputs here.
Partner appreciation We cannot conclude the year without extending our deepest appreciation to our partners and funders whose trust, collaboration, and support made our work possible this year. Your commitment to advancing digital rights, inclusion, and accountability across the Global South continues to strengthen our impact in the fields of research, advocacy, capacity building, thought leadership, community engagement and core institutional support. Together, we have pushed boundaries, responded to emerging challenges, and championed rights-respecting digital spaces. We are grateful for the shared vision and partnership, and look forward to building even stronger collaborations in the year ahead.
Help us start 2026 strong As we look to 2026, the work continues and we want to start the year strong. Your donation will help Paradigm Initiative expand training and capacity-building programmes for underserved young people across the continent, advocate for digital rights, safer online spaces, and accountable technology policies, and ensure continuous research, monitoring, and strategic litigation to protect digital rights. Your contribution fuels our mission towards ensuring a digital rightsrespecting Africa. Donate to support our cause. Thank you for sticking to the end. We hope you enjoyed the read. See you in 2026! Please leave any feedback at media.enquiry@ paradigmhq.org
Monthly Newsletter - December 2025
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Monthly Newsletter - December 2025