Net Rights Coalition has urged the Zambian government to uphold digital rights ahead of the August 13 general elections.

The coalition, a network of Internet freedom activists exchanging knowledge and experiences to defend digital rights, stated this in a statement on Friday.

The coalition said the call followed recent arrests of journalists and a decline in civic freedoms noted early in the year.

“The Coalition is concerned with the arrest, detention and summoning of Zambian journalists under the country’s Cyber Crimes Act No 4 of 2025, which was enacted with concerns raised.

“The incident comes as legal and civil society organisations have petitioned the High Court, arguing that aspects of Zambia’s Cyber Security Act No 3 of 2025 and Cyber Crimes Act No 4 of 2025, including provisions relating to surveillance and the interception of communications, could have far-reaching implications for freedom of expression, investigative journalism and civic participation,” the statement said.

Noting that the arrest, detention and summoning of members of the fourth estate signalled a chilling environment for the media ahead of the general election, the coalition highlighted the growing need to ensure that cyber legislation strikes an appropriate balance between protecting legitimate privacy interests and preserving the public’s right to information, particularly during election periods.

It added, “It points to the need for cyber laws to be implemented transparently and proportionately.”

Citing a state-imposed internet shutdown in August 2021, the coalition stressed the need for the government to uphold digital rights that will guarantee unrestricted access to information and opportunities for free speech, assembly and association during the election.

“The internet and social media provide forums for communication, public debate, access to election-related information and holding governments accountable. These digital platforms enable journalists, human rights activists and election observers to report on and cover elections more effectively,” the coalition explained.

It advocated, among other things, amending legislation that impedes the exercise of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, privacy, access to information, and media freedom.