Some governments impose strict restrictions on internet users for various reasons. In Africa, while these actions are widespread, some countries make an effort not to oppress their citizens for engaging in online activism.

Freedom House, a U.S. organization that advocates for global freedom, released a report on October 16 that ranks South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya as the top three countries for internet freedom in Africa.

The "Freedom on the Net 2024: The Struggle for Trust Online," report evaluates the level of Internet freedom in each country using a series of methodological questions. "The methodology is developed in consultation with international experts to capture the vast array of relevant issues to human rights online," the report explains.

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Global internet freedom declined for the 14th consecutive year as voters were forced to make major decisions about their future while navigating a censored, distorted, and unreliable information space.… pic.twitter.com/TQmIW7iqMS

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To determine the rankings, Freedom House evaluates barriers to internet access, content restrictions, and violations of users' rights. Countries scoring between 100 and 70 are labeled "free," those scoring between 69 and 40 are "partly free," and countries scoring below 40 are categorized as "not free."

Of the 17 African countries in the ranking, only South Africa (74) is considered free. The country ranks 17th worldwide, ahead of Argentina, which scored 71. Ghana (65) and Kenya (64) fall into the "partly free" category. Rwanda (36), Egypt (28), Sudan (28), and Ethiopia (27) are identified as the least free countries on the continent.

It is important to note that in 16 of the 17 African countries analyzed, internet users have been arrested, imprisoned, or detained in retaliation for their online speech. In 9 of these countries, users have faced physical attacks or even death for their online activism. In Sudan, “the RSF and SAF seek to manipulate online content to advance their favored narratives of the conflict, and both sides have carried out brutal crackdowns against journalists, activists, and ordinary internet users who cover the war neutrally or report on human rights abuses,” Freedom House adds.

This absence of freedom also results in intentional internet shutdowns and restrictions on social media access. In 2023, 10 sub-Saharan African countries employed such measures, causing estimated economic losses of about $1.74 billion, according to the British platform Top10VPN.

Of this amount, 91.37%, or $1.59 billion, is attributed to Ethiopia, where the government implemented internet blackouts due to tensions with militias in the Amhara region. Freedom House reports that Internet freedom has been particularly limited in countries facing armed conflict. For example, authorities in Sudan and Ethiopia have cited security concerns to justify disrupting connectivity and cracking down on online journalists.