Freedom of expression restrictions are increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, undermining democracy and the respect for human rights. During the past three elections, the government shut down the internet. This project will document all forms and methods used to control information ahead of the slated December 2023 elections, and generate solutions for digital rights defenders in their wake.
The project entails three main efforts:
1. Technical research and report into whether an internet shutdown (blocking, censorship, or throttling) has occurred during the electoral period
2. Digital security training focused on incident response, communication and device encryption, and circumvention and anonymity tools
3. Setting up an online, digital security helpline platform
