KeepItOn Campaign manager Felicia Anthonio expressed concern about the possibility of partial or complete internet shutdowns around elections.Internet shutdowns around elections are dangerous. Whenever the internet is shutdown, people are excluded from the electoral process,” said Anthonio. A complete internet shutdown could spark protests and chaos, she said.

Anthony echoed these concerns during a one-day event organized by Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHADI) and Access Now on Tuesday 21st June, 2023.

As part of the #KeepItOn Campaign, the event was themed Dialogue on Internet Shutdown. The dialogue aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of shutting down the internet before, during, and after elections among relevant stakeholders, including the government and internet service providers. Furthermore, participants learned how to use mobile apps like OONI Probe to detect partial or complete internet outages.

Abdul Fatoma, Chief Executive of CHADI, urged government to keep the internet on and recognize citizens’ rights in an interview. “Internet rights are fundamental human rights,” he said.

Fatoma noted that the government, through Chief Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa, had promised not to shut down the internet prior to the event.

The National Coordinator of Youth Network in Election and Governance, Ibrahim Bangura, called on the government to maintain internet connectivity during and after elections. Most young people use the internet to run their businesses, conduct desk research, and other personal activities.