this is of our way to have her on re this is about to brotherhood about going to be a warrior coveralls we dont by chance are in faces. where like brother burger is, this is the training we prepare and we're preparing to defend our fan mit our families, our children, our wives, a i own a bad thing that happened over the years, or perhaps most importantly it represent me. thanks here. company here on our to international this sunday will be back to the top of the i was plenty more. see them. ah

ah, ah, ah, ah, a censorship is something that the west has long criticized china for. but now it is no longer just a chinese problem. it's a global one. internet black out,

social media shut down and bandwidth brawling by governments. cost the global economy. $5500000000.00 in 2021. and not only that, but internet shut downs are dangerous, as with it comes censorship, information regulation, and isolation from the outside world. i'm christy, and you're watching the costs of everything. where today we're going to be looking at the dangers of internet censorship and what it costs the economy when the internet gets shut down and the citizens are disconnected. ah. now according to one study, the economic cost of government enforce internet shut downs, grew 36 percent last year compared to 2020 estimates of almost $500000000.00 people were affected by these internet blackouts. now in 2021, there were

a 182 documented cases of internet shutdowns across 34 different countries. and in africa, government directed internet shut downs have threatened digital penetration and growth. mia mars economy was the most severely impacted by internet shut down in 2021 following 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 platforms such as telegram and signal co leaders have imposed a near total internet shut down and have introduced a draft cybersecurity law that would impose drag coney and rule and allow the government access to user 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 ivy's 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. every one is affected. almost all internet shutdowns in africa for the last 5 years have been because of political protests. a study show that these shut down occur during times of political contestation, such as elections rising fuel prices in the country and protests. nigeria was also heavily impacted after 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 winston mano, author, and university of winston professor. so professor, it seems like all the shut down occurring times of political unrest. my does it 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's the wrong moved by african governments and also other governments in the world to think that they can just shut 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 circulating information. so when they used that in that had sat down, it doesn't mean the close of communicator santano's. it just means either tennis kick in, for example, people boys to be able to find each other. he paused to be able to psyche latino information there. we f white record department radio in africa, the little manual. 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 a 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 and verified. it's

actually, it can be very dangerous. can natalie to protest countries 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 that 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 the people deployed them. they, they dump the walls that they weren't got in that, that i put in. and when the restrictions like in any kind of, for example, the introduced an extra touch on using what's up and this,

this, this see, 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 businesses affected during the 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. i like, for example, when they are reaching matching our customers or international customers in this day and age africa, us, you know what you need to to said with not only people within after that, but outside and when the internet is down, some boy use the intel it's, it's diagram ah, what's a google, as in odessa of tissues here. and when there is no business coming through, say the locker e b equivalent. then it means that a day at the air intake for the day will be limited. so how do they negotiate this things? the anomaly would subscribe to more than one or platform. they would say to maximize the, if it presents in different platforms who is

a strategy that is very or to where if in for telephone communications, most businesses, the on the telephone lines that are run by different telecommunications company. so if one telecommunication company is not available, then they go to another. and this has been a strategy that works here. now, india had a massive internet blackout in 2020 that caused the country and estimate $2800000000.00 laws. and 4000000000 in global losses. why we're the internet curves in india higher than any other country. i in india, there they are very kid in the clearing in done it in ways that wet for them. i think they are taking a lift from dana, which is using in our local outs until you're seeing the internet in order to

leverage their own business operations. so in india, for example, when they head in 2016, a ban on facebook, they were very keen on protecting net neutrality so that their applications that they would lay on her and internet shut downs. how some tensor implemented fob political reasons, like when they say her political protests are which are 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 take order kind of for, you know, approach where you talk to business suspicion,

but also to see for society and work. howard solutions that i agree with. everyone is not just about what the government wants or with the political party in charge, and this can be wrong here. dr. winston model. 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, we'll have more after the re ah, ah, i think russia in the 21st century has taken several opportunities to try to see if they 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 with ah, 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 old

messaging app, what's app is extremely popular internationally as it operates on a why fi connection for free? african nations, argentina, malaysia, colombia, and brazil has some of the highest whatsapp user rates and more than 90 percent of internet users on whatsapp in these countries. what's up is basically the portal into the internet. what that 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 what's up, 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 move 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 shutdowns. so how exactly do these shutdowns work? well, one way is for the 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 meta 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 are 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 solutions out. obviously, initially meant for them, so as the 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 civil society and they have amplified to they are fight against the packers 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 use the, the kind of, you know, issues in the african and vital method to mask somewhat. it says 30 does. it should declare that i did, it should be much more forthcoming. so that is a win win in intervention in africa. now kenya wants to ban facebook over hate speech raising fears as censorship map. what will life in kang and be like without this buck? i think her, when kenya canyon officials are seeing that they're saying, look,

let's talk. these are issues that are really important. yeah, i, you saw that even when they delia banning twitter and tin are saying the, the issue is a, a new religion now kind ability where of bay are these take janes, they need to just talk thinking of themselves as technology companies. the or so have fair a lot of media, you know, are a lot of communicative ability which is affecting or deny life. we all know about, you know, or the temporary donnelly seeker problem or no or houses book is no. emily catered in. oh, it's all good in so now we know influencing the way a make decisions in elections there. kin a late sit and content at the expense of other content. and what we are seeing is that the is neat for facebook to actually listen. i have seen some videos where

mac, so can big is some town brought to the congress to answer certain questions. we don't, if this, sir, or the policy power within africa in most african countries, is a lot of trusts that this ticket companies that are coming in good faith, but that good faith is not rewarded to her. so when kenya saying, look, we don't like in our da, predicts to lafayette speak to and fiscal. they had looking for a shipment, they're looking for at his point from facebook, we have facebook and does something positive about tackling it head speech. they need to wait with the 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 it's from i is that come to

controversial content here. so you should remove, couldn't that, that mexican profit, but it's affecting local 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. is it dangerous? when all of this is centralized on one platform, so the meta can basically control all narratives and new sources. yes, i think what's up is quite popular. also, increasingly now we chat is being popular the chinese location. but to what's up is way, way i had to do a lot of people again in africa we use what's up to really news. a lot of people are publishing newspapers for what's up there. q 80 news stories they share to live with the large groups. but it's also a source off in our lives. 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, with that kind information or 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 recommend that the movement, i think the functions of what's, what's out by a very controversial and in some cases you have some controls that are being used like here in symbolic way. i'll 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 person mentioned to 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 the vitamin that's that i don't care if you know, 3 don't are there to limited 3. don't way people are struggling with other basic issues. it can assume other dimensions, but can undermine, you know, the dreams of net internet. we don't that to, you know, defined as, of, of i c, t 's to wended with these technologies. what we have is a continue to continue to kind of restrictions that, that they've become non for,

you know, hopeful, so falls within this context in. so it's, 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 handbook view, it is provided via information which others 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 are not savvy, you will find that they may end up in aligning with blocks. but at the moment i would, i get this note much, you know, when i, when i go to in bye bye, see my relatives from what i already know. ro,

areas are areas that are not fully saved by must media. they, they are, i, in the know, they would know what is happening from messages that circulated on what's up. so, what's up is broad as white in the news kind of audience. it is, in a way, provided, you know, and, and emancipator, the function where 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 active is there. 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 the goals, say, you know what's up or treat and claim to have done a, b, c. do people replace that way? 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 the does need to be much more, you know, accountable need to be much more fluent in the data relationship with the electorate. dr. winston model. 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 thought 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 m e v boost relay flash pots, and comply with the us 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 ornate cash, as you recall, was banned by the us treasury earlier this year. censorship fears have deepened, post merge, and as the power have it, if cause of becoming a validator could result in a consolidation. a validator knows to bigger crypto firms who are much more

susceptible to being influenced by government sanctions. so it is disturbing that in this day and age where we take our freedom of speech for granted, there is a trend very fine, 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 with oh, ah

my name is frank, i'm a richardson, philadelphia got in the movement at age 13 going on 14 or violent towards those people because we believe that word is raised, we're here 1st, and this is our country being part of that movement. i got your sense of power. when i felt powerless, i got attention when i felt invisible and accepted when i felt level life after hey, is an organization that was founded by 40 skin, neo nazi white supremacist in the us and canada. and they found each other and they knew that they wanted to help other guys get out. there's 2 parts to getting out of a violent extremist. the 1st part is disengagement, which is where you leave the social group. and then the next part is de 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 without a box that done vo, to intimidation my of the presidential and parliamentary elections in africa. law destination nigeria also this out. oh wow. is really central is way the palestinian a wire. i 2nd buildings in cars on fire, reportedly killing one person and leaving 98 wounded. this comes off like deadly drive by shooting up. he's railing on sunday with freedom and peace is only possible.