The regulation of terrorist online content in Africa : an overview of the applicable regional instruments and the legal frameworks of South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria

Abstract

The rapid advancement in technology has made society increasingly dependent on information and communication technology (ICT). Unfortunately, this dependence has also created new opportunities for terrorist groups to use the Internet for their activities. Over the years, there has been a significant rise in terrorist online activity, with these groups using the Internet for various purposes, including the dissemination of terrorist content. This is particularly concerning for African countries, where Internet use by terrorist groups and dissemination of terrorist content is increasing. However, the complexity of regulatory measures within the continent due to diverse legal frameworks, as well as capacity and implementation challenges, complicate efforts to address this issue. In this context, this article explores how existing regional instruments and national laws address terrorist online content. It proposes a unified and multifaceted approach to improve the regulatory measures in Africa.