Zambia has cancelled the world's largest human rights and technology conference, RightsCon 2026, just days before it was due to start, citing that it did not align with 'national values'. The summit, scheduled for 5–8 May in Lusaka, was expected to draw over 2,600 activists, technologists, academics and policymakers to discuss digital rights issues including online hate, internet shutdowns, AI, surveillance and disinformation.
Thabo Kawana, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Information & Media, said the cancellation was to ensure the event 'aligns with Zambia’s national values, policy priorities, and broader public interest considerations'. However, rights campaigners have condemned the decision as censorship, and Zambian news reports suggest pressure from China may have been a factor, as several Taiwanese delegates were due to attend and the venue was donated by China.
Linda Kasonde, a prominent Zambian lawyer and civil society activist, said the move reflects a 'slow degradation of rights' ahead of the general election in August 2026. She noted that the government has been introducing laws that make it easier to entrench power, while denying political parties and civil society the chance to meet publicly. 'It really dents the image of our country,' she added.
Organiser Access Now, a New York-based group, said it had spent months liaising with the government and described the cancellation as 'unprecedented and existential' evidence of transnational repression. Many delegates had already booked travel, including Karna Kone from Côte d’Ivoire, who had spent months organising his visa. He said the cancellation was 'a loss in terms of money and of energy', and silenced conversations important for Francophone Africa.
Chioma Agwuegbo, director of TechHer in Nigeria, said the incident reflects a troubling pattern where compliance mechanisms are used to restrict dialogue and dissent. RightsCon, now in its 14th year, was held in Taipei last year and was to be the first edition in southern Africa.
