ABSTRACT
This chapter frames the internet as a human rights and developmental issue for Africa. Despite the growing use of the internet on the continent, such use has quickly mirrored, if not exacerbated, social divides within countries and across regions, with Africa lagging behind all other regions as regards access to the internet and deriving socio-economic benefits from it. From a policy perspective at regional and domestic levels, there appears to be a failure to recognise the link between the internet, development and human rights. This chapter makes the case that recognising such link is critical to an effective response to the challenges and opportunities presented by the internet. Within this context, this chapter introduces the issues this book addresses.
