MTN’s ethical dilemma: human rights violations amid internet shutdowns

MTN is more widely known for the communication, education, and financial benefits its mobile and internet services bring to 19 African markets, but allegations of human rights violations due to internet shutdowns ordered by governments in conflict continue to surface, raising an ethical dilemma for the group.

- EDWARD WEST

Business Report was invited to review an investigation by OpenSecrets.org.za into these alleged human rights abuses by MTN in countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, and Iran, all carried out by governments, directly or indirectly, and all in which MTN is a major investor.

The investigation claimed a class action lawsuit was lifted when a Sudanese judge restored internet service provider, Zain to restore his service.

The lawyer then launched a criminal action, and on July 9, 2019, the court ordered MTN, Sudani, and Zain to restore services for all their customers, which they did promptly.

The #KeepItOn coalition, a global network of over 334 human rights organisations from 106 countries working to end internet shutdowns, states on its website: “It’s official: 2024 was the worst year on record for internet shutdowns, from election-related manipulations to contentious elections, as political escalations continued to make headlines in Africa, authorities increasingly defaulted to internet shutdowns to disempower and disconnect people.”