In today’s digital age, the use of digital surveillance tools has become increasingly prevalent, posing a significant threat to digital rights and freedoms. These tools, often used by governments, corporations, and even private entities, to monitor and collect vast amounts of personal data, tend to compromise individuals’ right to privacy and freedom of expression.
On 8th April 2025, Daily monitor reported that the Government of Uganda through the Uganda Communications Commission is in the advanced stages of the process to acquire equipment and technology capable of monitoring social media activity which sparks concerns about privacy invasion, mass surveillance, and potential chilling effects on online expression and civic engagement in Uganda.
Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act (2019) provides a legal framework that regulates the collection and processing of personal data. It ensures regulation of the collection, processing, use, storage, and disclosure of personal data, applying to both public and private entities within Uganda and those outside the country that handle Ugandan citizens’ data. Among the provisions in the Act includes part iii which highlights the data collection and processing; (i) subject to subsection (2) under consent to collect or process personal data, states that a person shall not collect or process personal data without the prior consent of the data subject and there are penalties for non-compliance which may include fines and sanctions.
The use of these tracking tools in Uganda contradicts with this Data Protection Act and poses several threats to digital rights and freedoms, including invasion of privacy which involves collection of sensitive personal data without consent, compromising individuals’ right to privacy. The use of tracking tools can also lead to mass surveillance, undermining individuals’ freedom of expression and association. Data exploitation that collects data can be used for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or targeted advertising. The knowledge of being tracked can have a chilling effect on individuals’ online behaviour, stifling free speech and creativity.
This can have far-reaching consequences for Ugandan citizens, including loss of trust in digital services and institutions, undermining the potential benefits of technology. Increased vulnerability among the populations, such as human rights defenders and journalists, may be disproportionately affected by tracking tools. The misuse of tracking tools can lead to economic losses, as citizens may be deterred from using digital services.
How to protect yourself
- Use encrypted communication tools such as Signal, Element, or Session for sensitive discussions or private conversation. Enable full-disk encryption on your devices to protect data.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all social media and email accounts to enhance security and to make it more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access to accounts.
- Utilize privacy-enhancing tools, including VPNs and browsers like Tor and Brave, to limit surveillance and tracking. Encrypt your internet traffic to mask your location and IP address.
- Use Anti-Tracking tools like ant-tracking browser extensions or apps that detect and block tracking.
- Stay updated on digital security threats and best practices through community-led training and peer learning.
- Advocate collectively for transparency, legal oversight and public transparency on the purpose, scope, and oversight of any surveillance technology being procured
- Use secure messaging apps: End-to-end encrypted messaging apps.
Conclusion
Uganda’s efforts to regulate social media and potential use of digital tracking tools raise significant concerns about citizens’ digital rights and freedoms. As the country navigates the complexities of the digital age, it’s crucial to balance national interests with individual rights, ensuring that citizens’ privacy, freedom of expression, and autonomy are protected.
