No Fb, Twitter or WhatsApp.
That is changing into an increasing number of widespread in some African international locations, the place governments have periodically shut down the web or blocked social media platforms.
Uganda is the newest nation to limit entry within the run-up to its presidential election on 14 January.
Digital rights activists say it is censorship, however governments argue it helps preserve safety.
How does blocking work?
A authorities can limit entry by ordering web service suppliers (ISPs) to restrict entry to their subscribers.
Within the first occasion, that is prone to be a block on generally used social media websites.
As a extra excessive measure, the authorities can order service suppliers to dam all web entry.
Which international locations are blocking entry?
Instances of web shutdowns in Africa have been rising.
Uganda has ordered web service suppliers to dam all social media platforms and messaging apps.
Customers have been already been complaining of dealing with difficulties accessing some apps and a few websites.
Tanzania restricted entry to the web and social media functions through the current elections final October.
In June final yr, Ethiopia imposed an web shutdown which lasted for near a month in response to unrest which adopted the killing of a outstanding Oromo singer and activist Hachalu Hundessa.
Zimbabwe, Togo, Burundi, Chad, Mali and Guinea additionally restricted entry to the web or social media functions sooner or later final yr.
In 2019, there have been 25 documented situations of partial or whole web shutdowns, in contrast with 20 in 2018 and 12 in 2017, in accordance with Entry Now, an unbiased monitoring group.
And the group says that in 2019, seven of the 14 international locations that blocked entry had not performed so within the two earlier years.
The brand new international locations have been Benin, Gabon, Eritrea, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania and Zimbabwe.
That is a part of a world development, the place an increasing number of international locations are proscribing web entry, as much as 213 shutdowns globally in contrast with 106 in 2017.
The group says in Africa, most lockdowns are likely to have an effect on complete international locations versus particular areas or teams of individuals.
In 2019, 21 out of the 25 shutdowns recorded by the group affected complete international locations or most elements of the international locations.
Solely Sudan and Ethiopia had focused shutdowns.
“This means that shutdowns usually are not solely rising in quantity, however are additionally increasing in scope and affecting an increasing number of folks in Africa,” the group says.
‘Server not discovered’
In every nation, it is right down to the person service suppliers to hold out directions from the authorities to dam entry.
One methodology used is named URL-based blocking.
This can be a filter which prevents entry to an inventory of banned websites.
A person attempting to entry these websites would possibly see varied messages equivalent to “server not discovered” or “this website has been blocked by the community administrator”.
One other methodology is known as throttling.
This strategy severely limits visitors to particular websites, giving the impression that the service is gradual, thereby discouraging entry.
That is extra delicate, because it’s tough to know whether or not websites are being actively restricted or whether or not poor broadband infrastructure is accountable.
As a ultimate measure, telecoms corporations could be required to close down their companies solely, stopping all information entry.
Can service suppliers say no?
The flexibility of governments to censor the web is determined by their capacity to train management over telecommunications corporations.
Web service suppliers are licensed by governments, which suggests they threat fines or the lack of their contracts.
Operators might have the precise to enchantment to the courts, however in apply they not often do.
Nevertheless, there have been exceptions.
In 2019, the courts in Zimbabwe dominated in favour of reinstating web entry after the federal government ordered restrictions.
In response, the federal government applied new laws permitting them higher management over the web.
Zimbabwe’s info minister Monica Mutsvangwa says this may “make sure that web and associated applied sciences are used for the nice of society, to not violate nationwide safety.”
There are additionally examples the place governments wishing to close down the online have a better activity.
“There are exceptions like Ethiopia the place telecommunications continues to be not liberalised”, says Dawit Bekele, Africa Regional Bureau Director for the Web Society.
“There’s a de-facto single gateway owned by the federal government operator that may simply be used to dam the Web,” he says.
Until entry to the web has been shut down utterly, there are methods that people can handle to evade these boundaries.
The most typical methodology is the usage of digital non-public networks (VPNs). These encrypt information paths, making it tough for service suppliers to dam entry to restricted websites.
Governments may block VPNs, however are much less inclined to take action as a result of this additionally severely inconveniences overseas diplomats and enormous corporations which use them.
Some African governments have pointed to the rise of “faux information” on-line as a purpose for imposing restrictions.
However some analysts and opposition figures contemplate this an excuse for suppressing teams important of the federal government, which frequently organise on Fb and WhatsApp.
“Earlier than, throughout and after elections, governments have a tendency to dam the web due to dissent,” says Mr Bekele.
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