By Ayo Jones
The launching of LEXOTA, an interactive tool to help human rights defenders across Sub-Saharan Africa challenge problematic laws and policies against disinformation takes place on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
LEXOTA tracks and analyses laws, policies and other government actions on disinformation across the region. The tool is powered by data and insight from a consortium of civil society organisations.
LEXOTA is being launched to tackle the proliferation of disinformation online which poses a number of threats to human rights. The tool will also address laws and policies that are designed to tackle the phenomenon.
In recent years countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have tackled disinformation through content-based restrictions and regulation, with many of these measures, which are not considered legitimate by international human rights standards, posing significant risks to individuals’ right to freedom of expression.
Speakers at the May 10 launching, which is via zoom link, include Julie Owono, Executive Director of Internet Sans Frontières and Muthoki Mumo, the Sub-Saharan Africa representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ).
Details of the event are
Time: Tuesday, 10 May 12:00-13:15 WAT / 13:00 – 14:15 SAST / 14:00 – 15:15 EAT
Location: Via Zoom link
Languages: English and French and Portuguese