This report looks at 3 key challenges to Free Expression across 6 countries in East Africa and gives practical recommendations to address these challenges.
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A former Miss Universe Singapore contestant who memorised her friends' debit card details and used these to spend S$2,000 online was on Thursday (Feb 11) sentenced to six weeks' jail.
THE STANDARD By
Sigi Waigumo, Tracey Ishmael |
February 12th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Looking back at 2020, it’s clear that government reactions to the pandemic have reduced freedom of expression for people across Eastern Africa. Key challenges include the criminalisation of opinions expressed online, poor accessibility and affordability of the Internet for all, and inadequate privacy and data protection for individuals and communities.
In 2020, the media and other actors began documenting the arrests of bloggers, citizen journalists, and politicians in Kenya and beyond. Names of various individuals, including Idris Sultan, Milton Were, Stella Nyanzi, Valentin Muhirwa and Elizabeth Kebede frequently appeared in newspapers and TV reports for allegedly insulting a political figure, or spreading false information.
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A retail consultant who sold details of Singtel customers and used the money to pay off a drinking debt has been sentenced to 18 weeks in jail.
Kelvin Foo Cheek Ann, 32, pleaded guilty to a corruption charge and five charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act. Another 10 charges were taken into consideration yesterday.
Foo had sold the information for $180 to Lee Cheng Yan, a 37-year-old who was later jailed in another case, for causing grievous hurt to a police officer.
Foo was working as a retail consultant at the Singtel shop in Parkway Parade, selling mobile and broadband plans to customers.