While the pandemic has pronounced the need for African countries to adopt certain digital technologies in carrying out surveillance functions, amongst which are contact tracing and collaborations with telecommunication companies, there is little or no comprehensive data protection and privacy law that protects and checks the excesses of this technology in intruding in citizen’s privacy. Consequently, this weak regulation has allowed governments in Africa to leverage this to clamp down on citizens’ digital rights and exploit the privacy rights of individuals, civil societies, pressure groups and the media. Produced by Paradigm Initiative and Up In The Sky Films, Focus explores the fundamental challenges of digital rights in Africa. It spotlights the urgent need for human rights and internet freedoms in the African continent. Mark, a young, promising Congolese tech professional, gets caught up in the web of the repressive world around him. Being nonchalant, he falls victim to digital and data intrusion and Police brutality. Will he survive the nightmare before him? Based on true events as curated from people’s experiences, the movie documents the series of youth-led civil agitations, protests for absolute online freedom and violation of rights such as; enacting repressive laws, Police brutality, illegal arrest and killings of bloggers and citizens, internet disruptions, and illegal surveillance. Set in Congo, the short film advocates for respect for digital rights, and legal frameworks that promote individuals’ online privacy and data protection. It clamps down on the threat posed by total surveillance and calls for legislation that forbids data intrusion.
The short film, in summary
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Established in 2009, Paradigm Initiative is a Nigeria-based pan-African social enterprise working to advance digital rights and inclusion and empower youths with life-changing digital, life and business skills in Africa. Focus is a co-production of Paradigm Initiative and Up In The Sky Films with backing from The Kingdom of the Netherlands, United States Department of States and Open Society Initiative for West Africa. You are reading Mobility Arena.
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