RightsCon 2026 will no longer take place in Zambia after authorities cited “national values” and public-interest concerns.
The decision has triggered criticism from digital rights advocates, who warn that civic space and open debate are being constrained.
For Africa, the fallout raises a wider question: can digital growth coexist with accountable, rights-respecting governance?
A Digital Rights Summit Falls Silent
RightsCon 2026, one of the world’s leading gatherings on human rights in the digital age, has been cancelled in Zambia days before it was due to open in Lusaka, turning what should have been a landmark African convening into a warning sign for civic space, digital governance and geopolitical pressure.
Zambian authorities said the event needed “comprehensive disclosure” of key issues and “full alignment” with national values, policy priorities and broader public-interest considerations, according to TechPolicy.Press and RightsCon organisers.
Access Now, the organisation behind RightsCon, said it was told that diplomats from China had pressured Zambia’s government because Taiwanese civil society participants planned to attend in person.
Why The Cancellation Matters Now
RightsCon was expected to bring thousands of participants to Zambia, with more than 500 sessions planned and over a year of preparation behind the event, according to organisers.
For Lusaka, the conference would have positioned Zambia as a major African hub for debate on artificial intelligence, surveillance, platform accountability, cybersecurity, online expression and digital public infrastructure.
Instead, the cancellation has shifted attention to the boundaries governments place around speech, assembly and international civil society participation.
ARTICLE 19 condemned the move, saying the cancellation raised serious concerns for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
It argued that restrictions on these rights should be necessary, proportionate and tied to legitimate aims, not disagreement with topics or participants.
Open Digital Governance Builds Trust
The positive path is still visible. Africa’s digital economy is growing quickly; however, growth needs trust.
- Citizens, investors and innovators need confidence that digital policy debates can happen openly, including on difficult issues such as surveillance, censorship, data protection, platform power and online safety.
- If African countries protect civic dialogue, they can attract better partnerships, stronger digital investment and more credible governance reforms
- If they restrict discussion, they risk weakening public trust and sending a warning to journalists, technologists, researchers and civil society groups.
For young Africans building startups, reporting online harms, developing civic technology or advocating for safer internet systems, forums like RightsCon are not abstract.
They are places where policy, rights and innovation meet.
Protect Civic Space In Digital Policy
Zambia’s government should provide clear explanations, guarantee the safety of participants at related events and reaffirm that digital rights debates can take place without viewpoint-based restrictions.
African governments should also treat this moment as a governance test. Digital transformation cannot be reduced to broadband, fintech and AI adoption.
It must include freedom of expression, privacy, transparent regulation and protection for civil society.
For investors and development partners, the lesson is equally direct: digital infrastructure funding should be matched with rights safeguards.
ESG due diligence must include civic space, data governance and institutional accountability.
Path Forward – Keep Africa’s Digital Dialogue Open
Africa needs digital policy spaces that are open, safe and independent. That means transparent rules, credible security processes and protection for diverse participation.
The RightsCon cancellation should push governments, companies and civil society to defend digital rights as part of sustainable development, not a side issue.
Without trust, the digital economy cannot deliver inclusive growth.
Culled From: RightsCon Canceled After Zambia Requires ‘Full Alignment’ With 'National Values' | TechPolicy.Press
