Sudan Unveiled: Battling Internet Governance Fascism

Acknowledgement: A heartfelt appreciation to the AI model for its assistance in crafting this article and my anonymous friends who helped edit this article.

Imagine the deafening sounds of gunfire and explosions, compelling you and your children to flee, some without shoes, embarking on a long, arduous journey to the nearest town or perhaps seeking refuge in a camp for displaced persons, grabbing your phone to call or share information, only to find no internet connection.

This grim scenario reflects the lives of countless Sudanese citizens entangled in an ongoing conflict and a government employing internet governance fascism to stifle dissent. The dire situation has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis,?with over 6.3 million forcibly displaced people in Sudan as of November 2023.

Human Rights Watch?designates Sudan among the most internet-repressive nations, where internet governance fascism disrupts online information flow, stifles dissent, and impedes citizen's freedom to express views, participate in democracy, and hold the government accountable. This article raises a crucial question: How can we advocate for digital freedom and human rights?

????????Sudan's History of Authoritarianism and Parallels with Fascism

Sudan's political landscape has been marked by recurring authoritarian regimes, characterized by centralized power, suppression of dissent, and autocratic leadership. While not all military regimes align perfectly with fascism, Sudan's history exhibits striking parallels with fascist tendencies.

From Colonialism to Authoritarianism

Following independence from the United Kingdom in 1956, Sudan faced political instability and authoritarian rule. Colonel Gaafar Nimeiry's reign from 1969 to 1989 exemplified this trend. His implementation of socialist policies, imposition of a one-party state, crackdown on opposition groups, and enforcement of Sharia law mirrored the hallmarks of fascist regimes.

The Dark Era of Omar al-Bashir

The 1989 military coup led by Omar al-Bashir ushered in a dark era of human rights abuses, including torture, the Darfur Genocide, and severe restrictions on freedom of expression. The regime's transformation of the Janjaweed militia into the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in 2013 further cemented its grip on power.

The Uprising and the Fragile Transition

In 2019, a transformative uprising led to the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir's 30-year authoritarian rule. However, the subsequent transitional period has been marred by military interference and political instability. The RSF's involvement in the dispersal of a peaceful sit-in in 2019, resulting in hundreds of deaths and dozens of rapes, raised serious concerns about the military's commitment to civilian rule.

The Resurgence of Authoritarianism

In 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's coup further undermined the prospects for democracy in Sudan. The ongoing power struggle between Generals Dagalo and al-Burhan has exacerbated the country's fragility.

The Path Forward

Sudan's transition remains fragile, with the military exerting significant influence over the political process. The international community must support efforts to promote civilian rule, uphold human rights, and foster a culture of tolerance and diversity. The Sudanese people deserve fair and democratic processes, and their aspirations for democracy, freedom, and economic justice must be realized.

????Internet Restrictions and Surveillance:

• In 2011, Sudan created a unit known as the:?"Cyber Jihadist Unit, which used imported remote control systems (RCS)[2]??and computer spyware to spy on government opponents, journalists, human rights activists, and youth groups.
• In July 2013, Citizen Lab identified the presence of?Blue Coat ProxySG?device on Canar network, a privately-owned Sudanese internet service provider. The Sudanese government has been using Blue Coat technology to filter and block internet content and monitor the online activity of its citizens.
• In 2014, Sudan purchased the Remote-Control System (RCS) from the Italian company Hacking Team for EUR 480,000. RCS, associated with an ISP in Sudan, is a potent surveillance tool enabling the government to monitor encrypted internet communications, copy files, record calls and messages, and activate device features for targeted spying.
• In 2019, protests against the president's regime resulted in his overthrow. The government imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, stifling voices, suppressing information, and exacerbating the impact of the conflict. Sudan's historically weak institutions struggled to hold the government accountable, allowing authoritarian tendencies to persist.?Limited international pressure further emboldened these repressive practices.
• In 2020, the Sudanese government blocked social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp. They also frequently censor news websites such as Al-Jazeera and Radio Dabanga.?Moreover, surveillance software, like the Pegasus spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, is deployed to monitor activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.
• In 2019 and 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a military coup that resulted in an internet blackout.?The internet shutdown was lifted on November 11, 2021, after the Khartoum court ordered the primary telecoms providers to restore internet access and end the blockade that had shut down most data traffic in the country.
• In late 2022, a?Cessna plane delivered the Predator surveillance software from Cyprus to Sudan's paramilitary?Rapid Support Forces (RSF), developed by Verint Systems, an Israeli cyber-intelligence company. It is a powerful tool that can intercept and monitor communications, raising concerns about its potential use to target dissent in Sudan. The RSF, known for human rights abuses, now possesses this technology.
• The Current 2023 Sudan conflict over power between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) further complicates matters.?Rooted in longstanding tensions between these factions, exacerbated by the 2021 coup,?this conflict has led to significant displacement and casualties hampering humanitarian aid delivery and the country's economy. Additionally, the damage to data centers worsens the already weak telecommunication infrastructure, making it more challenging to access these areas for necessary repairs.
• Amid this conflict, the Sudanese government's intensified internet shutdowns, censorship, and surveillance have deepened the veil of silence and fear.?Some ISPs have reported a 90% drop in internet traffic due to the government's actions.

The government justifies?its actions, arguing that internet shutdowns are necessary for national security and public order, sometimes citing High School exams, using laws like the Armed Forces and Public Safety Law. However, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported in 2019:?Sudan: UN experts denounce Internet shutdown, call for immediate restoration

?? Sudan's Internet Governance: Navigating Legal Challenges and Suppression Tactics

? ?Despite the Telecommunication and Post Regulation Authority regulations seemingly aiming to safeguard web content accessibility, they paradoxically grant the government the authority to block websites without a judicial order, overshadowing the country's international commitments to human rights treaties. The filtering of content, employing vague terms and a commercial list of?blocked categories:

• Commercial list:?This list contains 13 categories that are "chosen to be blocked." These categories include websites about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, child pornography, making weapons, malware, and spam. The list also contains vague categories like "sites offensive to religion and calling for atheism."
• Local list:?the Sudanese authorities prepared this list of websites deemed inappropriate or harmful.
• Other classifications:?The regulation allows the authorities to add new categories to the blocked content list at their discretion.

Right to Access Information Act (2015):

Despite its 2015 enactment, the Right to Access Information Act remains dormant, with suspicions of whitewashing the government's image.

· Unfulfilled Mandates: The law mandates a commission that remains unestablished.

· Vagueness Hampers Transparency: Ambiguous terms restrict public access, allowing narrative control.

· Financial Barriers: Empowers institutions to impose fees on citizens, creating financial hurdles.

· Lack of Proactive Disclosure: Legal requirements for entities to proactively share information are lacking. Government agencies, private companies, and organizations are not obligated to make information public unless specifically requested. This hampers transparency, accountability, and public access to crucial general information.

Cybercrimes Law:

The Cybercrimes Law, evolving since 2007, has become a tool for repression, particularly by the Armed Forces.

• Ambiguous Definitions: Lack of clarity raises concerns about potential abuse.
• Unclear Responsibilities: Definitions and interpretation bodies lack clarity.
• Silence on Government Shutdowns: Criminalizes citizen-triggered shutdowns but is silent on government-initiated ones.
• Varying Levels of Ambiguity: Provide legal cover for repression.
• Contribution of Additional Laws: The National Security Law (2010) contributes to legal privacy violations.
• Flexibility in Justifying Shutdowns: Vague articles justify a 25-day internet shutdown during the coup.

?? How Does the Current Crisis Magnify Internet Governance Fascism?

• As a resident of Khartoum Bahri, I have often witnessed cars driving through the neighborhood, their loudspeakers urging people to join protests against the government's military coup with no access to communicate on social media, activists must spread the word using word-of-mouth and encrypted messaging apps. It is a common practice in other cities in Sudan, as the government has been cracking down on dissent and restricting access to the Internet.
• Journalist Nader Shulkawi, a correspondent for the Al-Ghad satellite channel, was detained by Sudanese Rapid Support Forces on May 30, 2023, for reporting on the ground developments in Khartoum. His detention is part of a broader crackdown on dissent by the Sudanese government. The RSF paramilitary group, known for its human rights abuses, has been accused of arbitrary kidnapping, torture, and sexual assault. At the same time, when the Internet is off, journalists refer to traditional media for sources and publish anonymously to avoid being monitored by security forces.
• Almost every time the?Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA)?calls for demonstrations, families across Sudan experience the same anxiety and fear. They fear that loved ones may be in danger, but the families cannot communicate with them due to internet restrictions and blocked bridges and roads. I had the same fear when I worked in Khartoum and lived across the bridge. My parents worried until I returned home, calling as soon as they heard the news.
• A Sudanese family living abroad struggles to stay in touch with their relatives in Sudan during a coup. The government has imposed a blackout on the Internet and messaging applications, making communication impossible. The family feels helpless and worried, waiting for the restoration of communication. I felt the same helplessness and worry when visiting Saudi Arabia in 2019 after the government imposed an internet blackout. I experienced how internet governance fascism used to oppress and silence people. The people who can afford it use SMS, international calls, and satellite phones to address the internet outage.
• On March 23, 2022, Yasmin Diaa, a Sudanese activist, was kidnapped by the police for protesting against the military coup. She refused to give up her cause despite intimidation. Her release was after her family and friends campaigned for her freedom. Sudanese activists have accused soldiers of kidnapping them to silence dissent, even after the war. The government has denied the allegations, but activists say they were abducted from their homes, offices, and even in the streets and held incommunicado for days or weeks. The Sudanese people have a right to freedom of expression and assembly, and the government must stop targeting activists who are peacefully exercising these rights. [1]
• In Khartoum, Mazin symbolizes resilience amid shattered infrastructure and silent banks. The challenges intensify as internet and communication systems crumble, hindering his electronic bank access. The central bank clearing system, crucial for financial transactions, remains silent. Undeterred, Mazin faces the daunting choice of journeying to neighboring banks for routine transfers. His story mirrors the indomitable spirit of a city in turmoil, where every task becomes a testament to perseverance.
• Internet censorship and phone line restrictions can devastate lives by denying them access to vital information, healthcare, education, and essential aid. In Sudan, the government's internet censorship and phone line restrictions severely impacted the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, exacerbating the devastating effects of the conflict.
• In Sudan, internet disruptions significantly impact the economy, costing $1.8 billion in lost revenue and disproportionately affecting small businesses and entrepreneurs(Quartz Africa, 2019).?To put that in context,?Sudan's GDP in 2019 was?$32.34 billion?1. Therefore,?$1.8 billion?is approximately?5.56%?of Sudan's GDP in 2019. With a 95% mobile phone penetration rate (ITU), the country heavily relies on mobile phones for communication and commerce. When the government shuts down the Internet, businesses lose revenue, struggle to reach customers, and face potential bankruptcy. Challenging job search, accessing education, and receiving essential services.??

??Global Perspectives

The overwhelming amount of online content has made it difficult for individuals to manage and navigate. This reliance on search engines and social media platforms can result in filtered information, reinforcing existing beliefs and limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints. Online hate speech and misinformation pose significant threats to democracy, particularly affecting marginalized communities. Media outlets have sometimes perpetuated negative stereotypes about specific regions, leading to misconceptions and biases, as evidenced by?Israel's war against Palestine. The global resonance of internet governance fascism is emphasized in articles like?:

• "Fascism on the Internet"?by Down to Earth
• "Social media companies should stop the normalization of neo-fascism"?by Media@LSE.
• The article?"Fascism is back. Blame the Internet"?by The Washington Post emphasizes the global threat of internet governance fascism.

These publications underscore the broader threat as social media platforms become breeding grounds for fascism. In some cases, the governments used these shutdowns to cover up news from specific regions.?For example, during the Israel-Hamas war in 2023, the Israeli government cut off Internet and communication across the Gaza Strip, cutting off the blockaded territory's 2.3 million people from the outside world.

For further insights on the broader issue, explore the article?"Rise of the Keyboard Fascists: How the Internet Enables Radicalization."

???????Time to Act: Unite for Internet Freedom and Human Rights in Sudan!

1. Advocacy and Action:

• Oppose the sale and use of surveillance tools enabling human rights violations.
• Implement sanctions against companies providing repressive governments with surveillance technology.
• Urge governments to stop using surveillance tools to suppress dissent and violate human rights.
• Call on governments to dismantle repressive internet censorship infrastructure, ensuring freedom of expression and access to information.
• Promote VPNs and Tor browsing to circumvent local censorship, ensuring broader access to information.
• Emphasize source verification and fact-checking to curb misinformation and promote responsible online sharing.

Contact Your Elected Officials:

- Advocate for internet freedom and human rights in Sudan.

- Urge officials to hold the Sudanese government accountable.

- Engage with international organizations to address and condemn digital authoritarian practices in Sudan, promoting foreign investment and stability.

Sign Petitions:

- Support the petition to end internet shutdowns and censorship in Sudan:?Petition Link.?

2. Support for Human Rights Causes:

• Extend support to organizations actively safeguarding human rights and freedoms.
• Provide continuous aid to people affected by conflict and actively support efforts for lasting peace agreements.
• Engage in democratic transition with people and their representatives to support civilian-led government establishment.
• Uphold human rights principles in interactions with governments and support initiatives strengthening human rights institutions.
• Advocate for digital rights protection and freedom of expression, emphasizing adherence to international standards.
• Support diverse content creation to broaden perspectives and foster a more inclusive online environment.

Engage with Human Rights Organizations:

- Connect with organizations like the Sudan Human Rights Monitor (SHRM) (SHRM Link) and the African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR) (ACJHR Link) to understand Sudanese internet governance practices and their impact on citizens' rights. Educate your friends and family about the dangers of internet governance fascism.

Attend Community Forums:

- Participate in discussions to raise awareness about internet censorship.

- Support civil society groups and activists advocating for digital rights in Sudan.

Volunteer Your Time and Skills:

- Offer assistance to local organizations working on internet freedom and human rights.

- Contribute to the organizations effectively utilizing your research, documentation, social media, or event coordination skills.

3. Government Initiatives:

• Invest in digital literacy initiatives to bridge the digital divide.
• Encourage financial transparency in taxpayer money use, especially in deals related to censorship equipment.
• Implement measures to ensure all the Internet traffic is treated equally, especially during political crises, preventing adverse economic and social impacts.
• Provide economic development assistance focusing on poverty reduction, job creation, and inclusive economic growth, aligning with aspirations for progress.

Together, we can establish a more liberated and accessible Internet for everyone!

[1] https://www.whrdmena.org/2022/03/28/2022-03-28-sudan-free-whrd-yasmine-diaa-sayed-ahmed/?lang=en

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2022/03/31/sudan-activists-say-soldiers-behind-secret-abductions-to-stop-protests/