According to Statista the number of internet users globally will grow to 5.3 billion by 2023, which is more than 50% of the world population. The compound annual growth rate for the whole period from 2018 to 2023 is six percent. The fastest expected growth from this period was in 2019, with 300 million new internet users and a growth rate of 7.7 percent from 2018. the number of internet users globally will grow to 5.3 billion by 2023, which is more than 50% of the world population. The compound annual growth rate for the whole period from 2018 to 2023 is six percent. The fastest expected growth from this period was in 2019, with 300 million new internet users and a growth rate of 7.7 percent from 2018.
These numbers make it impossible for us to turn a blind eye to how much the internet has become a natural part of our lifestyles. We depend on it in various spheres of our daily lives, and we are now more connected to each other than ever.
Our usage of the internet creates a dependency where we consciously and unconsciously provide it with information to reap its benefits. As a result, a strong correlation between our virtual, digital life and reality has been established. Our online activities possess the power to impact our real-life experiences, and vice versa. The internet has the ability to shape how we live, interact with each other, work, and make decisions.
Our actions and existence in the online realm make us vulnerable to cyber-attacks that can have tangible consequences in real life. For instance, there was an incident where a couple was robbed while on vacation, and it was discovered that they had shared their location and a video indicating their absence, providing the thieves with an opening to commit the crime. Additionally, in a recent study on the effects of cyberbullying, 65% of those surveyed reported feeling depressed after being subjected to online bullying.
Historically, wherever such elevated levels of human interaction have taken place, there has been the need to protect people and regulate activities.
Our increasing reliance on the internet has not only affected our digital lives but also put real-life values and activities at risk. These include human rights, privacy, commerce, banking, security, education, culture, law and morals. Based on this, governments have put in place digital infrastructures to ensure that the activities of their citizens online are protected, regulated and, in some cases, restricted or controlled.
An example is the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was implemented in May 2018 to protect the privacy of European citizens. The GDPR requires companies and organizations that handle the personal data of European citizens to comply with strict data protection standards and to notify individuals in the event of a data breach.
Governments also collaborate with each other to protect their citizens online. For example, the United States and the United Kingdom have a longstanding partnership on cybersecurity, which includes sharing intelligence on cyber threats, conducting joint exercises to test cybersecurity capabilities, and collaborating on policy development.
The concept of digital rights can easily fall through the cracks amid all the virtual advancements of the internet, online protection programmes by government and its usage.
Despite government efforts to raise awareness about cybersecurity risks, many people remain unaware of the potential dangers and do not take appropriate precautions. This can leave them vulnerable to cyberattacks and other online threats, even if government protection programs are in place. Digital rights only get talked about in closed circles of experts and in niche groups of cyber enthusiasts. An ordinary man or woman scrolling their phone at the bus stop very rarely is aware that they have digital rights at all. You cannot really blame them. The phenomenon of digital rights is not taught in schools and almost never appears on the evening news or on the breakfast morning show.
Poor awareness when it comes to digital rights notwithstanding, there are many examples of these rights being abused around the world, Africa included. Some common examples include internet censorship, surveillance of online activities, and the misuse of personal information collected online. These abuses can have serious consequences for individuals and organizations, including loss of privacy, reputational damage, and even physical harm. It is important for individuals and organizations to be aware of these potential threats and take steps to protect their digital rights.
There are a few different ways that you can protect yourself while being online. Use strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. This will help to prevent other people from gaining unauthorized access to them
Be careful about the personal information that you share online. Be mindful of what you post on social media and other public forums. Avoid sharing sensitive information (such as your home address or financial information) unless it is absolutely necessary/you are certain you’re using a protected website.
Use encryption to protect your digital communications. Encryption is a way of encoding information so that it can only be accessed by someone who has the correct decryption key. This can help to prevent unauthorized parties from accessing your digital communications.
Stay informed about digital rights issues and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in this area. This will help you to be aware of potential threats to your digital rights and take steps to protect yourself.
Follow reputable digital rights organizations and advocacy groups: There are several organizations and advocacy groups that are dedicated to promoting and protecting digital rights. By following these organizations, you can stay up-to-date on the latest digital rights issues and news.
Subscribe to newsletters and alerts: Many digital rights organizations and advocacy groups offer newsletters and alerts that provide updates on the latest digital rights news and issues. By subscribing to these newsletters, you can stay informed without having to actively seek out information.
Attend conferences and events: Attending conferences and events related to digital rights can be an excellent way to stay informed and network with like-minded individuals. Many of these events feature experts and speakers who can provide valuable insights and information.
Follow industry publications and news sources: Keeping up with industry publications and news sources can also help you stay informed about digital rights issues. Subscribe to news feeds and alerts from reputable sources in the tech and legal industries to stay on top of the latest developments.
Engage in online communities and discussions: Participating in online communities and discussions related to digital rights can also help you stay informed and connected. Join social media groups and online forums to engage in discussions with other individuals who are passionate about digital rights.
Consider using a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing the internet. A VPN encrypts your internet connection and can help to protect your online activities from being monitored by others. This can help to protect your privacy and prevent your personal information from being collected without your consent.
There are a number of online tools that you can use to protect your rights online. Some examples of these include:
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): A VPN encrypts internet traffic, making it difficult for third parties to monitor or track online activities. This tool can be useful in protecting online privacy and ensuring internet security.
Password Managers: Password managers store login information securely and generate strong passwords. This tool can help protect against identity theft and safeguard online accounts.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): 2FA adds an extra layer of security to online accounts by requiring a second verification step, such as a code sent to a user's phone or email. This can help prevent unauthorized access to online accounts.
Privacy-focused Web Browsers: Privacy-focused web browsers like Tor and Brave offer enhanced privacy features such as anonymous browsing, tracker blocking, and ad-blocking. These tools can help protect against online tracking and maintain user privacy.
Digital Rights Advocacy Tools: Tools like the Electronic Frontier Foundation's (EFF) Privacy Badger and the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) Know Your Rights can help individuals understand their digital rights and advocate for online privacy and security.
According to Statista, the number of internet users globally will grow to 5.3 billion by 2023, which is more than 50% of the world population. The compound annual growth rate for the whole period from 2018 to 2023 is six percent. The fastest expected growth from this period was in 2019, with 300 million new internet users and a growth rate of 7.7 percent from 2018.
With this data, it is impossible for us to turn a blind eye to how much the internet has become a natural part of our lifestyles. We depend on it in various spheres of our daily lives and we are now more connected to each other than ever.
Our heavy use of the internet requires us to constantly feed it with information in order to get the best out of it. Due to this, we are able to duplicate real-life activities via the internet thus giving this virtual network the ability to mimic life. This has established a strong connection between virtual, digital life and reality: so, our life online affects our reality and vice versa. The internet influences how we live; how we treat each other; how we work and how we make choices.
Historically, wherever such high levels of human interaction have taken place, there has been the need to protect people and regulate activities.
In parallel with reality, our usage of the internet has engendered real-life values and activities such as digital rights, digital privacy, e-commerce, online banking, cybercrime, cybersecurity, virtual reality, augmented reality, electronic money (cryptocurrency), and surveillance capitalism. Based on this, governments have put in place digital infrastructures to ensure that the activities of their citizens online are protected, regulated and, in some cases, restricted or controlled.
The concept of digital rights can easily fall through the cracks amid all the virtual advancements of the internet and its usage. A lot of us are oblivious to it due to the nature of the internet being free giving. Digital rights only get talked about in esoteric conversations and in niche groups of cyber enthusiasts. The ordinary man or woman scrolling on their phone at the bus stop has almost no clue that they even have digital rights. You cannot really blame them. The phenomenon of digital rights is not taught in schools and never appears on the 7 o’clock evening news or their favourite breakfast morning show.
Poor awareness of digital rights notwithstanding, there are many examples of these rights being abused around the world, including in Africa. Some common examples of digital rights abuse include internet censorship, surveillance of online activities, and the misuse of personal information collected online. These abuses can have serious consequences for individuals and organizations, including loss of privacy, reputational damage, and even physical harm. It is important for individuals and organizations to be aware of these potential threats and take steps to protect their digital rights.
There are a few different ways that you can protect your digital rights. Here are a few examples:
Use strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. This will help to prevent other people from gaining unauthorized access to your accounts.
Be careful about the personal information that you share online. Be mindful of what you post on social media and other public forums. Avoid sharing sensitive information (such as your home address or financial information) unless it is absolutely necessary.
Use encryption to protect your digital communications. Encryption is a way of encoding information so that it can only be accessed by someone who has the correct decryption key. This can help to prevent unauthorized parties from accessing your digital communications.
Stay informed about digital rights issues and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in this area. This will help you to be aware of potential threats to your digital rights and take steps to protect yourself.
Consider using a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing the internet. A VPN encrypts your internet connection and can help to protect your online activities from being monitored by others. This can help to protect your privacy and prevent your personal information from being collected without your consent.
There are a number of online tools that you can use to protect your digital rights. Some examples of these tools include:
Password managers: These tools help you to generate and store strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. This can help to prevent unjustified access to your accounts.
Encryption tools: These tools encode your digital communications, making them inaccessible to anyone who does not have the correct decryption key. This can help to protect your communications from being intercepted or accessed by unauthorized parties.
Antivirus and security software: These tools help to protect your devices from malware and other forms of cyber attack. This can help to prevent your personal information from being accessed or stolen by hackers.
Privacy tools: There are many different tools and services that can help to protect your privacy online. These may include tools that block trackers and cookies, as well as tools that help you to control the information that you share online.
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