Civil society pushes back against cyber law misuse at IGF 2025
Governments worldwide are increasingly using cyber laws not to protect citizens, but to control them—civil society is fighting back with unity, strategy, and determination.
At the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, a vibrant panel of civil society leaders warned that cyber laws, initially designed to combat real security threats, are increasingly being weaponised by governments to restrict civic space. Representatives from across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia shared strikingly similar experiences: the use of vague and overly broad legal terms, executive dominance in lawmaking, and lack of meaningful public consultation have turned cyber legislation into a tool for silencing dissent, particularly targeting journalists, activists, and marginalized communities.
Abed Kataya of Smex Lebanon highlighted how Middle Eastern regimes often bypass parliaments to enforce restrictive laws under the guise of cybercrime prevention. Cristian Leon Coronado of Internet Bolivia, also speaking for the Recipes Initiative, and Juan Diego Castaneda Gomez of Karisma Colombia, pointed out how Latin American governments—regardless of ideology—misuse cyber laws to entrench power.
Patricia Ainembabazi from CIPESA (Collaboration on International ICT Policy for Eastern and Southern Africa) presented data on 146 internet shutdowns across 37 African nations between 2016 and 2023, often implemented during elections to stifle dissent. Representing the Asia-Pacific, Bimsara Malshan from Sarvodaya Fusion Sri Lanka described internet restrictions and efforts to empower underrepresented groups through research and training.
Speakers emphasised that while international pressure and corporate accountability remain weak, civil society has found success through grassroots organising, coalition building, and legal action. Campaigns like ‘Keep It On’ in Africa and litigation at regional courts such as ECOWAS are helping to push back.
Daniela Alvarado Rincon from Democracy Reporting International (DRI), representing the EU System for Enabling Environment for Civil Society, stressed the importance of global coalitions and strategic litigation. Stephanie Borg Psaila of Diplo, the lead partner in the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) project, encouraged deeper engagement in international forums like the UN Cybercrime Convention negotiations.
Despite sobering accounts of suppression, the session, moderated by Kenneth Harry Msiska of the CADE project, ended on a note of cautious optimism. Panellists called for civil society worldwide to continue forming global alliances, monitor emerging threats, and use creative, context-sensitive strategies to protect digital rights. As Kataya concluded, change will not come from top-down pressure alone, but through sustained, collective grassroots engagement.
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