I can't help but to be proud and happy when my homeland, Ethiopia
has received its Internet Freedom Report Card from Freedom House in which it slipped in its Internet Freedom index from 75 last year to 79 this year. Thanks to the visionary late prime minister, Ethiopia is investing billions of taxpayers' money and the
government maintains a strict system of controls over digital media,
making Ethiopia the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa to implement
nationwide internet filtering. Well, our developmental government can not be accused for having one of the lowest rates of internet and mobile telephone
penetration in the world, as meager infrastructure, a government
monopoly over the telecom sector, and obstructive telecom policies
have notably hindered the growth of information and communication
technologies (ICTs) in the country.
Our
huge investment has returns: two individuals were prosecuted for
their ICT activities, while harsh sentences were upheld for
