Paradigm Initiative is pleased to announce the commencement of the registration process for the 7th Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF). Formerly known as the Internet Freedom Forum, the newly expanded Forum will hold from April 23 – 25 2019 in Lagos Nigeria.
Over the last 6 years, the Forum has gained a reputation as an important platform where conversations on Digital Policy in Africa are shaped, and policy directions forged. If you are interested in privacy, affordable Internet, increasing women’s access to digital tools, Internet shutdowns and similar themes, mark your calendar and join members of civil society, the technical community, government, academia and private sector for yet another agenda shaping event in 2019.
Registration for DRIF 2019 opens July 16, 2018 and ends January 31, 2019.
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Discussions at the Forum will revolve around Digital Rights and Digital Inclusion in Africa. For digital rights, sessions will explore topical issues around privacy and surveillance, Internet shutdowns, content takedowns, freedom of expression online activity amongst others.
Discussions on Digital Inclusion will take a look at the costs of Internet data access in Africa, connecting the unconnected, bridging the gender gap in ICT access, the role of ICTs in democracies and communities.
In 2018, the Forum welcomed over 200 delegates from 30 countries in Africa and beyond. In 2019, we plan to grow attendance by at least 50% as we welcome new voices to enrich the expanded framework of the Forum. The Forum will hold in Lagos, unarguably the business capital of Nigeria and arguably the tech capital of Africa. We believe this would make for a great atmosphere for lively conversations and an engaged local audience.
If you are an activist, technologist, journalist, government official, academic, legal or other professional interested in the future of the all things digital in Africa, please mark your calendar, book your flights and hotels and join us for what promises to be the event of the year on digital policy in Africa. We hope to welcome you in April to Lagos, Nigeria.
To give a feel of what to expect in DRIF 2019, we share some moments from the last edition here.