This document discusses challenges related to the free flow of information and censorship. It begins by defining key concepts like networks, digital divide, and literacies. It explains how networks enable access to information but also how censorship laws can restrict information flow. It describes the role of libraries in accelerating digitalization efforts and improving literacy. Overall, the document examines tensions between open access to information versus government restrictions and censorship.

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Challenges of
free-flow and
censorship of
information
Handout 3.
Fabian S. Kapepiso

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Free-flow of information
 Handout outcomes
 At the end of this handout, students should be able to:
 Define networks, digital divide, literacies, censorship, etc
 Explain how censorship laws restrict the flow of information
 Describe with examples, how networks enable access to information
 Explain how libraries in Namibia can accelerate the digitalization ambitions
of the country
 Describe how libraries can help African governments to improve literacy

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1. Free-flow of information
1.1. networks
 Enablers of communication
 Speeds up communication & eliminates distance
 Breaks geographical & time constraints
 No one has to wait for info u til someone sees it fit to have it published
 Allows people, libraries & orgs to be connected or linked to others
 Creates libraries without borders
 MTC081 everyone campaign tries to ensure that every part of Namibia
is covered with the networks

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1.2. Digital divide
 The gap between those who have & those who don’t have access to forms of
information & com techs, e.g. computers vs internet; smartphone vs hardware &
software
 Developing countries are catching up with developed countries
 Difference between digitisation & digitalization
 According to Burkett (2017), digitisation is the processor converting info from a
physical format to a digital one, e g. Scanning a doc to PDF & saving i5 on the
computer.
 Digitalization is the process of leveraging digitisation to improve business process.
E.g. scan & save as PDF, then upload doc to a cloud for accessibility anytime
anywhere. Gartner IT Glossary (2019) defines digitalisation as “the use of digital
technologies to change a business model and provide new revenue and value-
producing opportunities; it is the process of moving to a digital business”.
 Digital transformation is the impact or result caused by the process of digitisation

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1.3. Literacies
 Literacy is the ability to read and write
 Most Africans are illiterate and cannot use information to their benefit
 The 21st century literacies include: library instruction or info. Literacy, visual literacy, media
literacy, technology literacy, network literacy, and cultural literacy.
 The common literacy types are literacy, information literacy and transliteracy; where literacy
is the ability to read & write, & exists in the pre-web enviro. In info. Literacy, a person can
use and produce info; web 1.0 enviro. In transliteracy, we disseminate & share info; web 2.0
and beyond enviro.
 According to Krolac (2005, p. 3), libraries play a key role in creating literate environments
and promoting literacy by offering relevant and attractive reading material for all ages and
all literacy levels and by offering adult and family literacy classes…Libraries assist in
finding, using and interpreting appropriate information that opens up opportunities for
lifelong learning, literacy enhancement, informed citizenship, recreation, creative
imagination, individual research, critical thinking, and ultimately, empowerment in an
increasingly complex world.

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Censorship of information
2.1. Censorship of information
 Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information,
on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or
"inconvenient" as determined by a government.
 Censorship is put in place to basically silence the public on certain issues, especially
opposing ideas and opinions on certain matters in a country.
 Some other African countries that have blocked social media apps include Ethiopia,
The Gambia, and Zimbabwe.
 In some countries, “the primary mechanism through which censorship is effective in
slowing the spread of information is by creating information friction, or by making
access to information less convenient” (Roberts, 2014, p.1).
 It is government-driven and is a signal of government efforts at the suppression of
information. Information friction includes blocking sites, especially social media posts
that are considered sensitive and harmful to government administrations.

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2.2. Freedom of access to information
 There is a tendency by African countries and others to suppress access
to information.
 Information is power, and if citizens gain access to information they do
not agree with, they will voice their distrust in the government. This might
lead to governments being dissolved or shaken up.
 Some governments regard some information as top secret. Such
information will not be in the public domain to allow a citizen to criticise,
use, and do anything with it.
 Information should not be kept a secret from the public.
 People need the information to participate in the democratic process and
to influence certain outcomes to get the feeling of true ownership in their
destiny within a country.

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References
 Brandt, E. (2018). MICT to unveil National Digital Strategy. In New Era, 16 October 2018. Retrieved from
https://neweralive.na/posts/mict-to-unveil-national-digital-strategy
 Burkett, D. (2017). Digitisation and digitalisation: what means what? Retrieved from
https://workingmouse.com.au/innovation/digitisation-digitalisation-digital-transformation
 Cairo Bureau. (2018). Egypt targets social media with new law. 17 July 2018. Retrieved from
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-politics/egypt-targets-social-media-with-new-law-idUSKBN1K722C
 Gartner IT Glossary (2019). Digitalization. Retrieved from https://www.gartner.com/it-glossary/?s=digitalization
 Kathindi, A. (2015). WACS capacity to increase to 45%. In The Villager, Monday, 7 September. Retrieved from
https://www.thevillager.com.na/articles/9165/WACS-capacity-to-increase-to-45-/
 Katz, W.A. (2002). Introduction to reference work. Volume II: Reference services and reference processes. 8th
ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill
 Krolac, L. (2005). The role of libraries in the creation of literate environments. Retrieved from
https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/literacy-and-reading/publications/role-of-libraries-in-creation-of-literate-
environments.pdf

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 Merga, M.K. (2019). Ten ways teacher librarians improve literacy in schools. Retrieved from
http://theconversation.com/ten-ways-teacher-librarians-improve-literacy-in-schools-110026
 Naim, M. and Bennett, P. (2015). The anti-information age: how governments are reinventing censorship in the
21st century. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/02/government-censorship-
21st-century-internet/385528/
 Nakuta, J. and Mnubi-Mchombu, C. (2013). Accessing government information in Namibia as a human right
issue. In Strong Libraries, Strong Societies: the role of libraries in socio-economic development, pp. 334-345.
Proceedings of the Namibia Library Symposium, 7-9 October 2013. Windhoek: Namibia. Retrieved from
http://repository.unam.edu.na/bitstream/handle/11070/1587/Nakuta_accessing_2013.pdf?sequence=1&isAllow
ed=y
 Reality Check. (2018). Reality Check: Taxing 'gossip' on the internet. 15 July 2018. Retrieved from
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44821166
 Roberts, M.E. (2014). Fear or friction? How censorship slows the spread of information in the digital age.
Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f10f/d77e13c31c75ba4c4290ad89582f04aab266.pdf
 University of Pittsburg. (2018). Information literacy tools @ Pitt: other literacies. Retrieved from
https://pitt.libguides.com/c.php?g=12354&p=65747
 Van Dijk, J.A.G.M. (2017). Digital Divide: Impact of Access. Retrieved from
www.utwente.nl/en/bms/vandijk/publications/digital_divide_impact_access.pdf