Spyware Fellowship 2024

As Africa’s digital landscape evolves, so do the threats it faces. Advanced surveillance tools like NSO Group’s Pegasus and Cytrox’s Predator are increasingly being deployed by state actors, raising serious concerns about privacy, security, and civil liberties. These sophisticated spyware tools—capable of zero-click attacks—allow malicious actors to bypass security measures and extract sensitive data from devices without any action from the target. While governments often cite national security to justify their use, reports reveal a more troubling trend: civil society groups, activists, and vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of these digital invasions.

Recognising the urgent need for a local, African-driven response, we launched the continent’s first-ever Spyware Fellowship. This groundbreaking initiative was developed by Africans, for Africans, to close the knowledge gap on spyware and provide practical skills to those most at risk of being targeted. Our goal was clear: empower individuals to investigate, respond to, and mitigate the growing threat of spyware across Africa.

Over 4 months, a cohort of dedicated fellows from across Africa embarked on an intensive journey, gaining both technical and non-technical skills. From mobile forensics to open-source intelligence (OSINT), the fellowship equipped participants with real-world tools to protect themselves and their communities from digital threats.

But this wasn’t just about training; it was about community building. Fellows were paired with mentors – experts in cybersecurity and digital rights – and received personalised guidance from them. Fellows were also given group tasks and projects to help build a culture of collaboration and critical thinking which are quite essential for success in our industry. With the support of partners like WACSI and industry experts, our fellows were able to fully grasp the realities of Africa’s surveillance ecosystem and learn to fight back.

The fellowship journey began with an exploration of the Civil Society Landscape in Africa, setting the stage for understanding the real-world challenges civil society organisations face in the digital age. From there, our fellows had a hands-on training on the Anatomy of the Spyware Ecosystem. The sessions on OSINT empowered Fellows to gather critical data for their investigations, while forensic modules taught them how to detect and analyse spyware on mobile devices. Fellows also explored the Laws and Policies governing spyware across Africa, gaining a clear understanding of the legal frameworks shaping surveillance practices in Africa.

One of the standout projects of this fellowship was led by our top-performing fellow, Shorefunmi Bola-Saliu, who presented a comprehensive project on “Spyware Governance in Africa and the Impact of Spyware on Civil Liberties”. Her research, which explored the impact of spyware across Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Central Africa, provided a critical examination of how spyware is governed and its far-reaching effects on civil liberties. Shorefunmi’s work not only highlights the importance of strong governance but also paves the way for future research and policy recommendations in this area.

We hosted stakeholders to a Closeout Event and the presentation of her Capstone Project Presentation on Thursday, 19th September 2024.

With our first cohort ending successfully, we are currently strategizing and planning for the next cohort—to be better, more impactful and even much more inclusive. We look forward to expanding the program and reaching more individuals and organisations across the continent. 

For inquiries or further information about the Spyware Fellowship, please reach out to us at info@rtafrica.org.

If you’d like to be alerted about openings for the next cohort, please join the waitlist here