RightsCon Tunis 2019

Our session aims at working with Brazilian and African actors on advocacy strategies to protect human rights and lower the cost of Internet access in areas where the Internet remains a luxury. The spread of undersea fibre optic cables in south atlantic ocean may boost the Sustainable Development Goals, if operators were not reluctant to offer information about their networks and capacity utilization. We need more open data on such telecommunications net works (subsea cables, IXPs) to have meaningful conversations on universal access, Internet shut downs and affordability. Bringing these transatlantic routes of the Internet into the public debate will ultimately improve connectivity in the global South. In 2018, IWB conducted a multi-stakeholder seminar in Brazil to tackle with the issues raised by subsea cable infrastructures (transparency; digit al inclusion; privacy). We want now to bring our methodology into Africa and build transatlantic advocacy strategies. We plan to replicate the Brazilian workshop on the West African coast with stakeholders involved in submarine infrastructure. In addition, to launch a practical advocacy guide for promoting transparency in subsea infrastructures. Last, to launch a comparative index on subsea infrastructures and human rights to foster good practices in terms of transparency, affordability, Internet shutdown,etc...