Zambia Cancels Digital Human Rights Conference; Think Tank Concerns Over China's Influence and Democratic Backsliding
A digital human rights conference scheduled to be held in Zambia was canceled due to Chinese pressure to exclude Taiwanese participants, leading to a scaled-down World Press Freedom Day Conference. This situation raises concerns about China's influence on Zambia and the regression of democracy.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 12:28
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（Central News Agency reporter Chang Hsin-Yu, San Francisco, 2nd）According to U.S. media Semafor, the digital human rights conference originally scheduled to be held in Zambia was canceled due to Chinese pressure to exclude Taiwanese participants, which also led to a significant reduction in the scale of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day Conference held at the same location. Andrew Friedman, a human rights expert at a Washington D.C. think tank, expressed concern over Zambia's worrying situation regarding Beijing's influence and democratic backsliding.
Semafor reported that Zambia's Minister of Technology and Science stated the reason for the cancellation was that administrative procedures and security reviews for some invited speakers had not yet been completed. However, human rights groups and local media pointed out that the geopolitical sensitivity arising from the participation of Taiwanese advocates, based on Zambia's deep economic relationship with China, might be the underlying factor.
The "RightsCon Summit 2026," originally scheduled to be held in Lusaka, Zambia, from May 5 to 8, was affected by this incident, forcing UNESCO to significantly reduce the scale of its "World Press Freedom Day Conference."
The report stated that the "World Press Freedom Day Conference" was scheduled for May 4 in Lusaka, and the organizers issued a "last-minute notice" on their website, stating that the iconic press freedom award ceremony would be moved to UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The Media Freedom Coalition, composed of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, and other countries, issued a statement expressing regret over the sudden changes to the two conferences. They stated that many attendees, including journalists, media workers, and human rights advocates, had planned to attend these important meetings consecutively, but the cancellation of the digital human rights conference made everything impossible. The "World Press Freedom Day Conference" will now mainly be held online.
Semafor pointed out that many African countries have strengthened internet control in recent years, escalating digital rights disputes; this includes internet shutdowns during elections or protests, expanded surveillance technology, and the enactment of stricter cybercrime laws, raising concerns about freedom of speech and access to information.
China has become a key player, not only as an investor in African infrastructure but also as an exporter of its digital governance model. Human rights advocacy groups warn that the state-controlled internet governance model may further spread.
Chinese diplomatic allies, including Zambia, usually avoid hosting or supporting activities that might be interpreted as recognizing Taiwan's sovereignty.
Andrew Friedman, Director of Human Rights Initiative at the Washington D.C. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), stated that he had planned to travel to Lusaka this weekend to attend the conference before it was canceled.
Friedman said that this incident occurred three months before Zambia's general election; there is increasing evidence of democratic backsliding in Zambia, including new internet surveillance laws and increased harassment of journalists. Zambia was once hailed by the Biden administration as a "bright spot" for democracy, and this situation of Beijing's influence and democratic backsliding is worrying. (Edited by Hsieh Yi-Hsuan) 1150503
Semafor reported that Zambia's Minister of Technology and Science stated the reason for the cancellation was that administrative procedures and security reviews for some invited speakers had not yet been completed. However, human rights groups and local media pointed out that the geopolitical sensitivity arising from the participation of Taiwanese advocates, based on Zambia's deep economic relationship with China, might be the underlying factor.
The "RightsCon Summit 2026," originally scheduled to be held in Lusaka, Zambia, from May 5 to 8, was affected by this incident, forcing UNESCO to significantly reduce the scale of its "World Press Freedom Day Conference."
The report stated that the "World Press Freedom Day Conference" was scheduled for May 4 in Lusaka, and the organizers issued a "last-minute notice" on their website, stating that the iconic press freedom award ceremony would be moved to UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The Media Freedom Coalition, composed of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, and other countries, issued a statement expressing regret over the sudden changes to the two conferences. They stated that many attendees, including journalists, media workers, and human rights advocates, had planned to attend these important meetings consecutively, but the cancellation of the digital human rights conference made everything impossible. The "World Press Freedom Day Conference" will now mainly be held online.
Semafor pointed out that many African countries have strengthened internet control in recent years, escalating digital rights disputes; this includes internet shutdowns during elections or protests, expanded surveillance technology, and the enactment of stricter cybercrime laws, raising concerns about freedom of speech and access to information.
China has become a key player, not only as an investor in African infrastructure but also as an exporter of its digital governance model. Human rights advocacy groups warn that the state-controlled internet governance model may further spread.
Chinese diplomatic allies, including Zambia, usually avoid hosting or supporting activities that might be interpreted as recognizing Taiwan's sovereignty.
Andrew Friedman, Director of Human Rights Initiative at the Washington D.C. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), stated that he had planned to travel to Lusaka this weekend to attend the conference before it was canceled.
Friedman said that this incident occurred three months before Zambia's general election; there is increasing evidence of democratic backsliding in Zambia, including new internet surveillance laws and increased harassment of journalists. Zambia was once hailed by the Biden administration as a "bright spot" for democracy, and this situation of Beijing's influence and democratic backsliding is worrying. (Edited by Hsieh Yi-Hsuan) 1150503