An online app, Ripoti, has been launched to aid journalists and others in reporting and addressing digital rights infringements.

The platform, which can be accessed via ripoti.africa offers various resources, including legal assistance, counseling, mental health support, and digital security guidance, to assist victims.

The rise in the number of these violations prompted the creation of Ripoti, a strategic and collective online initiative to combat such incidents.

 “What used to be occasional events, occurring once a month and sometimes bi-monthly, have spiked to an almost everyday occurrence. It is clear that interventions must be strategic, communal, and systematic. This desire to create a communal, strategic, and systemic response to these incidents of digital rights violations birthed RIPOTI,” Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a Pan-African Organisation, Developers of App said.

RIPOTI enables listed partners and interested parties to collaborate in addressing digital rights violations collectively.

According to Joshua Oke, a Junior Developer at PIN, the organisation has been actively documenting instances of digital rights violations and providing legal support to affected individuals, as evidenced in their annual Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa reports.

The launch event occurred concurrently with the 11th Digital Rights and Inclusive Forum 2024 (DRIF24) in Accra, focusing on the theme of "Fostering Rights and Inclusion in the Digital Age."

Hundreds of delegates, including representatives from civil society organizations, academia, and NGOs, are participating in the three-day forum organized by PIN.

Joshua highlights that PIN has been providing crucial information to journalists interested in reporting on digital rights violations and has collaborated with partners to develop advocacy campaigns addressing many of these issues over the years.

He mentions the existence of a verification form designed to authenticate reports originating from various countries. This process ensures that cases are thoroughly understood and factual information is gathered before any action is taken.

“We are not just going to take any report – we will verify them with our partners in the countries where these reports are coming from,”he said.

The Ripoti app incorporates accessibility features to cater to visually impaired individuals, ensuring inclusivity for all users. Joshua mentions that developers, including partners, are actively reviewing and recommending improvements to enhance accessibility.

During a discussion, a visually impaired participant, Joseph Seyena-Susu from Inclusive Tech Group based in Ghana raised concerns about the effectiveness of these reviews in ensuring the app's usability for people with disabilities. Joshua reassures that the reviewers were selected based on their expertise in data and accessibility, guaranteeing an inclusive user experience for everyone.

A Senior Programmes Officer at PIN, Khadijah El-Usman, explains that reports are categorised by country to facilitate targeted responses. She highlights a case in Nigeria concerning privacy and data protection, where individuals' loan details are being publicised, reflecting a prevalent issue.

Ripoti is a collaborative effort involving various organisations, including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), lawyers, researchers, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), digital security experts, counselors, law enforcement agencies, and journalists, united in safeguarding digital rights.