34 different countries and in africa, government directed internet shutdowns have threatened digital penetration and growth. me and mars economy was the most severely impacted by internet shutdowns in 2021 falling the military coup. this was followed by the extensive internet and social media shut down as local journalists reported that they had been locked off of platform such as telegram and signal qu, leaders have imposed a near total internet, shut down and have introduced a draft cybersecurity law that would impose drug coney and rule and allow the government access to use their data. as a result, miramar took a hit of $2800000000.00. now e, b o, b as northern t gray region has been in nearly 2 year internet and phone shut down. after prime minister abbey ordered a military offensive on the break away region in november of 2020. the government now holds the record for the 2nd longest internet shut down in the world. this is

estimated to have a cost of over a $165000000.00. when internet access is restricted in africa, everyone who is part of the fast growing internet economy, including online vendors who sell items on instagram, banks that rely on the internet to facilitate payments, personal communication, media, access, etc. everyone is affected. almost all internet shutdowns in africa for the last 5 years have been because of political protests. a studies show that these shut down occur joint times of political contestation, such as elections rising fuel prices in the country. and protests. nigeria was also heavily impacted after it blocked access to twitter in june of 2021. and the estimated economic loss is around $1500000000.00. so what happens when governments cut the internet in their countries? the economic cost of internet shutdowns around the globe equated to about

$5500000000.00 in 2021. and this includes over 30000 hours of government internet disruptions. twitter was the most walk social media platform with over 12000 hours of disruption, which is 60 percent more than facebook. and for more, let's bring in doctor a winston mano, author and university of winston professor. so professor, it seems like all the shut down occurred during times of political unrest, but does shutting down off access to communication and the internet. a good strategy to quell unrest or does it actually promote further dissatisfaction? i think it said the wrong moves by african governments and also other governments in the world to think that they can just sat down the internet. ah, and is beside it, block social media applications that are people that are popular with the members

of the public. ah, i think our before internet people used to have, you know, add that older, tentative ways of, for circulating information. so when these, that in that had sat down, it doesn't mean the clothes off, communicate santano's, it just means add their tennis kick in. for example, people was to be able to find each other. people still be able to psyche latino information there we f white record, the pavement radio in africa, little my meal, where the word of mouth can spread rapidly. our people can clearly weds and news and spread it. ah, and to have such things, sir, it's the wrong in terms of election or when you have a pandemic like cove it i, it means sometimes the information that is circulating is that verified. it's actually can be very dangerous,

can natalie to protest kenley's that lead to more dangerous environment? so in my view, shutting down is not the answer, keeping them open but managing them and making sure the government promotes is one point of view alongside other perspectives is much more fruitful. and this should be the way to go. and are there ways to bypass internet shutdowns that are well known for citizens in these countries? yes, yes. they're like vp ins. people deployed them. they, they dump the walls that you know, the word god in that, that i put in. and these in, when the restrictions like in any kind of, for example, the introduced extra touch on using what's up and this, this, this, this was not productive. i mean, when people are using this,

they can still share whatever comes through using add their media tests. let's out . they are so many applications. so for politicians to target specific applications and shut them down, it doesn't or go away. but i also want to say, you know, this is why it's important to, to, to, to advocate neutrality. so that these, the content there can not be controlled there. the content should be available freely should be also multifaceted. and people must have options and limitations when they are using the internet and how our business is affected during these internet shutdowns, not just the local businesses, but the platforms like twitter, youtube, facebook, are there shutdowns a big hit to their bottom lines as well? yes, to some extent is quite a lot of business,

but they get from using the internet. oh, i like for example, when they reaching max not customers or international customers in this day and age africa, us the opportunity to say with not only people within after that but outside and when the internet is down, some use the internet is instagram what's up and google, as you know, yeah, that will tissues here. and when there is no business coming through, they the lock or a prevalent, then it means that the intake for the day will be limited. so how do they negotiate these things? they normally would subscribe to more than one platform, they would say to maximize their presence in different platforms. and it's such a that is very all to read. if in for telephone communications,

most business is the telephone line that line by different telecommunications company. if one telecommunication company is not available, then they go to another. and this has been a strategy that works. yeah. now india had a massive internet blackout in 2020, that costs a country and estimated $2800000000.00 laws. and 4000000000 in global losses. why were the internet curds in india higher than any other country? oh, in india there they are very key in there. regulating in done it in ways that wait for them. i think they are taking a lift from taylor, which is so using in our lock our apps until you're seeing that the internet in order to leverage their own business or punishment. so in india,

for example, when they had in 2016 a barn, one festival, they were very keen on protecting net neutrality so that their applications that they would lay one or, and internet chat downs. oh, some dancer implemented fob, political reasons, like when they say, oh, political protest, our retire triggered by information on the internet. but like i said, the strategy of closing down for me does not wake you end up in a pin, amazing, even business, wending to deal with their political situation. so it needs their policy environments that are much more responsive to the needs and it needs as tech ward again or for you know, approach where you talk to business especially, but also to see for society and wicker,

to solutions that i agree with. everyone is not just about what the government once or with the political party in charge, and this can be a lawyer. dr. wednesday, models. thank you so much. dr. winston will be joining us again after the break when we discuss how the internet's most basic function of communication is used as a control and censorship tool in africa. since they're vastly dependent on just one tech giant will have more after the at this hour, american and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm iraq, to free people, and to defend the world from great pay. a

we will bring to the iraqi people, food, and medicine, and supplies. and free with some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. united states of america is different . wearable people long to be free. they will find a friend in the united states, ah, with a body of the bolts, anybody basie, sincerely, city and p,

draw. you look at both the incentives of each cigarette, 2 color rebel notions is one among several meetings to reach goal of conquering foreign lands and bringing them onto the helm of usaa worse than they could all be cancerous. people been cited ultima people to regrow by the democracy during returning caller. sure, most of us say loader's soft power america. the soil goal, the same revolutions to ensure that all there are no independent players in the world any more b. welcome back. while most of us think about the internet as a valuable news outlet and a place to consume entertainment, one of the most basic functions of the internet is actually communication. meta owed messaging app whatsapp is extremely popular internationally as it operates on

a why fi connection for free african nations, argentina, malaysia, colombia, and brazil have some of the highest whatsapp user rates. and more than 90 percent of internet users are on what's up in these countries, what's up is basically the portal into the internet. what's app allows people to communicate and chat with friends, receive news updates, and media coverage, as well as set up a merchant commerce account to operate a small business and receive payments. so when there is a communication black out on whatsapp, there is confusion and panic as citizens are suddenly unable to communicate with friends and family. and while we think of censorship as a power moved, that is often associated with political regimes trying to control the media. censorship at a basic level holds communication between people in a country and because the internet in africa is basically meta, it is centralized and becomes very easy for those in power to enforce these shut

downs. so how exactly do these shutdowns work? while one way is for their authorities to issue a notice to the individual service providers, in this case meta to carry out their will. this is known as u r. l base blocking, which is a filter that prevents access to a list of band sites. user is trying to access these sites, might see that the server was not found. another method is called throttling, where it's severely limits traffic to specific sites, giving the impression that the service is slow thereby discouraging access. it is more subtle because it is difficult to know whether these sites are being actively restricted, or whether or broadband infrastructure is to blame. and as a final measure, telecom companies can be required to shut down their services entirely, preventing all access. and because internet service providers like mehta are licensed by governments, they risk fines or the loss of their contracts if they do not comply. and for more,

let's bring back dr. winston mano, author and professor of the university of westminster. so facebook is not just an online social network, it is a big owner of the internet infrastructure in africa. so just how plug in is facebook to the daily lives of the people in africa. some of these businesses, they enter the market like africa, we down to clearly declaring that interest to, you know, to do business without telling the african that look, we're here to, you know, we're here to look after our business. but we are also here to try to promote your business. so many africans the few that we need to end as africa. it is actually an investor, which is coming to employment, which is coming to provide solutions. but the solutions, why must understand this solution out of your slee initially meant for them. so

if they are solutions that will promote different brands. and so when facebook was banned in india, when asked the question, why was facebook the same free business program? why was the accepted in africa? why is it going to be common in more than you know, to african countries? there is something wrong because people have y explanation or understanding of that argument that was used by the intense in africa. it is growing without much hassle of this is that facebook is seems, lend from its mistakes in india, in africa, they proceeded quietly, according to research. they for example, putnam to civil society and they have amplified to they are fight against the north

. so she park is sat down and so the discourse is not necessarily what facebook is doing. it's about something else. so it's about, you know, government behavior. it's about being dentist. i'm not saying they should not be focused on that. but facebook is used the, the kind of, you know, issues in the african environment to mask some of the, it's just, it should declaim strategy. it should be much more forthcoming. so that is a win win intervention in africa. now kenya wants to ban facebook over hate speech raising fears of censorship. but what will life and can be like without facebook? i think when can you can, you know, if he shows or saying that they're saying, look, let's talk. these are issues that are really important. yeah. you saw that if you know data binding, twitter, you know, saying the,

the issues there and your relation are conductivity. where by, you know, these 2 giants, they need to just stop thinking of them. so it's, it's technology companies, they also have a lot of media, you know, a lot of communicative ability, which is affecting or denied life. we all know about, you know, they can pretend seek out for blame or no house. his book is no employee kitted. it's all good and so now we know influencing the way make decisions in elections. they can i laid certain content at the expense of the content and what you're saying is, but the need for the 1st book to actually listen. i've seen some videos we max, who can make is sometimes brought to the congress to answer certain questions. we

do have this policy power within africa in most african countries, is a lot of trusts that this ticket come by. this coming in. good faith. but that good faith is not. what did so when can you say, look, we don't like the prediction of speech on facebook. they had looking for it and they're looking for at his point from fist, we're facebook and dad. something was it about tackling it, had speech. they need to to wait with lockers in order to identify the sources of speech. and if verified with local policy players verified, this should be taken down and promoted because we know that, you know, facebook like all the tech companies, they benefit from its eyes that come to visual content. so you

should remove, couldn't that, that mexican profit, but it's affecting local us interest here. and what's up is the biggest social media platform in africa. and it's clear that a lot of people get their news from what's up as well, isn't dangerous. when all of this is centralized on one platform, so the meta can basically control all narrative and new sources. yes, i think what's up is quite popular. are also increasingly now we chat is being popular, the chinese location. but to what's up is way, way i had a list of people again in africa we use what's up to really news. a lot of people are publishing newspapers for i was curious, news stories they share to live with large groups. but it's also a source of, you know, lice. it's also fake news to source of inaccurate information. so what's up

is not just, you know, as social media for people saying hello to each other in africa in context which, you know, we can do information order with and saved pain for mission. so media like what's become really important, get ways for people, they expecting quality information. so how do you make that the movement? i think the functions of what's out, what's out very controversial. in some cases, you have some controls that are being used like care in symbolic way. i give you an example that came out this week. one woman with tissues was a man belonging to what a group. and she complained about salaries and other colleagues to join it. and

that discussion in a private group ended up with the police just because one of the pissing mentioned in the group reported it to the police. and these and when police officials advanced at the woman so we can see how, what's up in vitamin that's that, that i don't care if you know, 3 don't order that a limited 3 don't away. people asked, sadly, with the basic issues, it can assume other dimensions that can undermine, you know, the dreams of net internet. we don't that do, you know, defined as, of, of i c t 's to ended with these technologies. but we have is a continuum continuous. what kind of restrictions that, that to be kept on non 4 o $44.00 falls within this context in. so it's a real problem. i would, i can is what's up shaping democracy in africa. we have

a study here that shows that what's up has been both emancipatory as well as destructive during election campaigns. in my view, in my hand, both view it is provided viator information, which went to sent out. but it's also double. we saw in a way to also provides inaccurate information. and in most cases, if use us alert savvy, you will find that they may end up in aligning with ad blocks. but at the moment i would, i get this note much, you know, when that when i go to in bye bye, see my relatives from what i already know, ro, areas or areas that i'm not fully saved by must media. they, they, they are in the know, they would know what is happening from messages that are sick,

elated on what's up. so what's up is brought to is waived in the news kind of audience. it is in a way provided you know, and emancipatory function whereby people have access to the news. the decision that they make more research is needed. after looking at the us at the moment, the decision they make, it doesn't necessarily lead to the what's up say activism. but in a way, the directive is him is as taking ship where president used to lie and say things without challenge. i have written about this, sometimes they go say, you know what's up or twitter and claim to have done a, b, c, d, people replaced it. i always say no, you are lying. i live in this area. you did not do this. so it is sort of force that new kind of politics where lead does need to be much more, you know,

accountable need to be much more straightforward in the data relationship with the electorate. doctor winston motto: thank you so much for your time and insight. now there are very few winners in an environment where access to information is restricted, but in these areas, demand for vpn services has skyrocketed as citizens sought to regain access to news and communication. now another alternative is of course the, the centralized web $3.00. but that is still in its infancy and is not yet able to provide the same ease of access that people are used to. it also does not have enough users and content to match that of the traditional web either. but these centralizing the internet may be a lot harder than many realize, and even crypto is not the perfect solution. crypto company, elaborate ceo is trying to raise awareness among the theory and validators running the flash bought software that they may be unintentionally contributing to

censorship within the theory network. according to survey approximately 45 to 50 percent of all east walks currently being validated, run an e v boost relay flash spots and comply with the un sanctions. validators have a financial incentive to use these relays as they're being paid to use it. and these findings were reinforced when another study found that of the $900400.00 blocks verified by flash, pots relay, none of them included a single tornado cash transaction. and tornado cash, as you recall, was banned by the us treasury earlier this year. censorship fears have deep and post merge and as the power of it, if cost of becoming a validator could result in a consolidation of validator knows to bigger crypto firms who are much more susceptible to being influenced by government sanctions. so it is disturbing that

in this stain age where we take our freedom of speech for granted, there is a trend where i find that freedom is slowly getting eroded away from all sides. i'm christy, i thanks for watching. and we'll see you right back here next time on the cost of everything. ah ah ah. in 1935 fascist italy, led by dictator benito mussolini decided to expand its colonial empire in africa and take over ethiopia. by that time, ethiopia was the only fully independent state on the continent. back in 1896, it's inhabitants were able to defeat the italian colonists and defend their

independence. since then, rome craved for revenge for the humiliating defeat. in the morning of october, 3, 1935. without any announcement, the fascists attacked ethiopia and bombarded it most severely. ethiopian armed forces fought courageously, but the brutality of the italians knew no bounds. they use not only massive bombing attacks on civilians, but also chemical weapons, toxic gases. this change the course of the war. as a result of the occupation of ethiopia by the fascist 760000 people were killed. the capture of the african state was committed with europe's tacit approval . britain and france recognized the annexation giving the green light to further fascist in, in the world and paving the way for the outbreak of world war 2. i

am, my name is frank from a reserve from philadelphia got in the movement in 80 age 13 going on 14. we were violent towards those people because we believe that we're in a race. we're here 1st and this is our country being part of that movement. i got a sense of power when i felt powerless, we got attention when i felt invisible and accepted when i talked to level the life after hey, is an organization that was founded by for a skinhead, neo nazi white supremacists in the us and canada. and they found each other and they knew that they wanted to help other guys get out was 2 parts to getting out of a violent extreme was the 1st part of disengagement which is where you leave the social group. and then the next part is d. radicalization where belief systems audiology are removed. it was very impactful when someone finally came along with

no fear, no judgement, you heard my story did nothing to challenge it. validate with i think russia in the 21st century has taken several opportunities to try to see if there would be interested in the west to create new boundaries to create a new relationship. and as you mentioned, time and time and time again, it would get flatly rejected because we have sort of pushed russia into this corner, ideologically attitude way to say you're the adversary. you're the, we may not be in a formal bipolar ideological cold war anymore. but we're not going to allow a new relationship to develop with ah,

ah ah, vote counting is underway. nigeria, which is electing. it's next president, add parliament. several states seem disruptions and one even postponing voting till sunday morning. also ahead on the story fet shape the week ukrainians. they were planning to hold these positions for a long, long time. well, this particular sector it fro in less than a week. party reports from the don bass front lines as russian forces breakthrough ukrainian defenses in and around the key city of appeal. more.