Hi folks, FYI Katim ---------- > From: Irfan Khan <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Article 19 on the internet in Africa (fwd) > Date: Monday, May 31, 1999 11:21 AM > > [from the Democracy News mailing list 5/27/99] > > > AFRICA: INTERNET CENSORSHIP- African countries are finally gaining > increasing access to the Internet, while authorities continue to > maintain control of the medium at the same time, says a new ARTICLE > 19 report entitled "The Right to Communicate: The Internet in > Africa". According to the report, 51 out of Africa's 54 countries > have access to the Internet, even though it is expensive and is > impeded by communications barriers. ARTICLE 19 says,"E-mail and > discussion groups, in particular, have been quickly embraced as > powerful tools for sharing information and ideas." Authorities have > used various methods to control access to the Internet, some by > maintaining a monopoly on telecommunications, others by controlling > new services such as the Internet Service Providers (ISPs). > Nonetheless, the report says, "journalists and human right > organizations in Africa have been quick to embrace e-mail because of > its relative speed and reliability, as well as its ability to > circumvent government censorship and control." To obtain a copy > contact: ARTICLE 19 at 33 Islington High St., London N19LH, U.K.; > tel: +44 1 71 278 9292; fax: +44 1 71 713; e-mail: > [log in to unmask]; Website: http://www.gn.apc.org/article19/. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------