Free Speech is Pricey

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Showing you What's Art And What's Not In African Tech

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Every Wednesday, we post an opinion article on something we found Interesting. Here goes this week’s take:

The "age of technology," as many love to call it, has been marked by incredible milestones across all aspects of our human experience. Among the most significant has been the transformation of communication. Technology has profoundly altered how we perceive ourselves and others, how we interact, and how we communicate. Through social media, the world has indeed become a global village, reshaping how we work, live, love, and learn.

Recently, social media has also emerged as a powerful tool for change, as demonstrated by protests worldwide. In Africa, Kenyan youth have leveraged social media for mobilization, civic education, and accountability. Across platforms like X and TikTok, they continue to hold leaders accountable, organize peaceful protests, and debunk lies spread by senior government officials aimed at deceiving the electorate. Similar trends have been observed elsewhere in Africa, such as during Nigeria's #EndSARS protests in 2020 and the Libyan protests in 2011.

However, technology has also given rise to self-proclaimed "experts" who, with little knowledge, weigh in on sensitive topics. This trend has been exacerbated by the push for unfiltered free speech on leading social media platforms. With the freedom of speech, users often express their intrusive thoughts, often under pseudonyms. Unfortunately, this sometimes manifests in vile, mean-spirited comments meant to discredit, humiliate, and misinform.

Sometimes, all three.

The Case of Imane Khelif

If you're familiar with the internet, you've likely encountered the smear campaign against the incomparable Algerian Olympic Gold medalist, Imane Khelif. Imane, a cisgender woman, faced hate and cyber bullying after some X users accused her of having an unfair advantage over her biological opponent, Italian boxer Angela Carini, in a match that ended in a record 46 seconds.

Among those spreading hate against Imane were X owner Elon Musk, author J.K Rowling, and media personality Piers Morgan. Rowling, in a message to her 14.2 million followers, posted a picture from Khelif’s fight with Carini, accusing her of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk, meanwhile, shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed, “men don’t belong in women’s sports,” and co-signed it by writing, “Absolutely.” After Imane won the match, Piers Morgan posted this comment that was swiftly deleted following backlash:

Logan Paul also joined in, attacking Khelif on social media following her win against Carini. He posted on X, stating, “This is the purest form of evil unfolding right before our eyes. A man was allowed to beat up a woman on a global stage, crushing her life’s dream while fighting for her deceased father. This delusion must end.” Paul later deleted the post, admitting that he “might be guilty of spreading misinformation.”

What followed was a coordinated series of posts targeting Imane, discrediting her well-deserved win, and most notably, questioning her gender and womanhood.

How crazy is this?

Combined, Musk, Rowling, Morgan, and Paul have more than 224 MILLION followers on X. For perspective, Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, has just over 232 million people as of 2024.

Now, across the globe, a demographic nearly as large as Nigeria’s population (not counting reposts) believed and shared untruths about Imane simply because they were posted by "credible" sources like these individuals.

Imane, we are so sorry 💔

Despite all this, Imane rose above the hate and went on to win her next match against Chinese boxer Yang Liu, securing the gold medal for Algeria in women’s boxing 66kg at the Paris games. In her victory speech, a teary Imane acknowledged the toll the hate had taken on her, saying, “I have been boxing for years with the International Boxing Association, which has committed INJUSTICE against me. But I have Allah with me. Allahu Akbar.”

Shortly after her victory, Imane filed a complaint for online harassment with the National Center for Combating Online Hate, which is part of the Paris correctional court, through her lawyer, Nabil Boudi. J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk have both been named in the complaint for alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment.”

The Cost of Free Speech on Social Media

Imane’s story is far from an isolated incident—it is one of many that lay bare the painful cost of unrestrained free speech on social media platforms like X. Beyond the mental anguish, free speech has given bigots a platform to push narratives about Imane that are not just harmful but blatantly untrue. The ripple effects of these lies are profound, touching not only Imane’s personal and professional life but also the broader discourse on race, gender, and identity in sports.

As these falsehoods spread, millions of X users called for community notes to become a widely accessible feature in Africa. The need for this feature is especially urgent given the pervasive Western interference in African geopolitical, social, and economic issues—interference that often has real-life consequences for the region's stability. Yet, despite these demands, community notes remain largely unavailable in many African countries, leaving athletes like Imane vulnerable to unchecked hatred and misinformation.

But Imane was not left to fend for herself. Her supporters—many of whom were women—rose to the occasion, countering the lies with facts and amplifying her achievements. They asserted, loudly and proudly, that Imane is a biological woman, highlighting that a Muslim conservative country like Algeria would never send a transgender woman to the Olympics, especially since being transgender is illegal there. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also confirmed that all necessary tests had been conducted and that Imane was fully eligible to compete in the female category.

Yet, amid this storm of misinformation, one truth remained glaringly obvious: Imane’s case is a classic example of what happens when someone is simply too good. The backlash wasn’t just about gender or race; it was about the discomfort some feel when confronted with excellence from those they deem unworthy of it.

Bigotry in sports is nothing new:

• In tennis, we saw it with the relentless and baseless attacks on tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams, who, despite their undeniable talent, have been subjected to years of racist and sexist vitriol.

• In football, stars like Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., Bukayo Saka, Mario Balotelli, and others have constantly spoken out against the racism and bigotry they face from fans, especially when their performances are deemed subpar.

•  In Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, the only Black driver and the most decorated in the sport's history, has also been a victim of racism, facing both overt and covert attacks aimed at diminishing his achievements.

• In athletics, Caster Semenya’s name has become synonymous with the struggle against injustices faced by African athletes. Despite being born a woman, she has been subjected to invasive and humiliating gender tests, with her femininity constantly questioned due to her dominance in the sport.

So severe is this problem, that some athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka have both had to take mental health breaks from competitive sports to care for their well-being due to cyberbullying.

Where are we?

In Africa, where moderation tools like community notes are either lacking or ineffective, the impact of such weaponization is even more pronounced. Athletes like Imane are often left vulnerable to attacks rooted in deep-seated prejudices—racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination that have no place in sports, or anywhere else for that matter. But in the digital world, these prejudices find fertile ground, where they are nurtured and allowed to grow unchecked.

This raises a crucial, perhaps even existential question: Is technology truly empowering us, or is it simply amplifying our worst tendencies?

In a world where the loudest voices are often the most harmful, where does the responsibility lie? Is it with the platforms that allow these voices to be heard? Or with the individuals who choose to listen, believe, and spread the lies?

 So, where do we go from here?

First, let’s acknowledge the sensitivity around gender discussions. As Africans, we need to approach these conversations with care, avoiding the trap of simply parroting Western viewpoints. Our cultural contexts and perspectives are vital, and we should be cautious not to adopt narratives that might not fully resonate with or represent our experiences.

Telling our stories accurately and positively is our duty. Even when using platforms like X—owned by Elon Musk, who played a role in the smear campaign against Imane—our goal should be to share the truth. We need to be vigilant in reporting accurately and using the tools available to us to combat misinformation.

Advocating for tools like Community Notes is crucial. These tools are not just about countering hate speech—they’re also essential for holding leaders accountable, fighting propaganda, and educating the public. In Africa, where these resources are often limited, pushing for their wider adoption could make a significant difference.

In the meantime, let’s take matters into our own hands. Educate and correct each other. Focus on the specific issues African athletes face and build our own discourse around their treatment. It’s important to highlight and address these issues from our own perspectives rather than relying on external narratives.

Expectations from official bodies like Olympic committees can be disappointing. We cannot always count on them to side with the truth especially when speaking truth to power can bear financial consequences. Therefore, we must be prepared to speak truth to power in every way possible.

Ultimately, it’s about a commitment to integrity and community action. It’s crucial that we use our voices not just to speak, but to build a digital environment where technology uplifts rather than divides. As we face these challenges, let's hold onto George Orwell's insight: “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

Stay connected, stay vigilant, and let’s make our voices resonate with purpose.

Till next time, cheers!

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