Digital Rights Frontlines (DRF), originally known as #defyhatenow South Sudan, was initiated in early 2014 by r0g_agency for open culture and critical transformation gGmbH (Berlin) in response to the conflict in South Sudan that erupted in late 2013. At its inception, the project aimed to address the role of social media in fueling hate speech and incitement during the civil unrest in South Sudan hence the #tag #defyhatenow.
The situation in South Sudan subsequently escalated with the renewed conflict in 2016, which displaced over two million civilians to neighbouring countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan. To meet the demands of these shifts in focus #defyhatenow began facilitating reconciliation dialogues among stakeholders to understand, assess, and counteract the effects of social media-driven hate and misinformation. From 2016 onwards, the initiative trained diverse groups, including civil society actors, policymakers, youth leaders, and internally displaced persons across South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan with a primary focus on diaspora actors and civil society members in the neighbouring countries, this includes but not limited to collaborating with organizations like PeacTech Lab which produced the first South Sudan Hate Speech lexicon
The environment in South Sudan was marked by rampant hate speech (online and offline), limited civic space, and restricted access to reliable information. Social media platforms were often used by individuals affiliated with both the government and the opposition to spread hate speech and misinformation. The absence of credible, authentic media sources further exacerbated this challenge, leaving the digital landscape dominated by fake news and unverified information.
Civic freedoms—including rights to assembly, association, and expression—were severely constrained, coupled with poor implementation of the Access to Information Act. Public institutions frequently fail to provide timely and accessible information to citizens.
The overarching objective of #defyhatenow South Sudan was to promote freedom of expression, enhance access to information, and combat misinformation and hate speech in South Sudan. These efforts aimed to empower civic actors to mitigate hate speech, counter misinformation, and increase public access to trustworthy information.
Between 2015 and 2018, #defyhatenow South Sudan received support from the German Federal Foreign Office through the ifa/zivik programme. The project focused on mobilizing civic action to address hate speech and social media incitement to violence. During this time, it expanded into neighbouring countries, produced vital resources like the Social Media Hate Speech Mitigation Field Guide, and deepened its impact.
In 2019, #defyhatenow South Sudan was officially registered as an independent organization. This legal recognition marked the beginning of new partnerships and funding from various donors, including the European Commission, Internews, Meta Inc., Data4Change, Meedan, Internews and the Small Media Foundation. These partnerships enabled the organization to scale its initiatives and broaden its impact.
In 2021, #defyhatenow South Sudan launched two groundbreaking initiatives: 211Check and SafetyComm. 211Check became South Sudan’s first fact-checking platform, addressing misinformation related to health, governance, and social issues. Over time, it has grown into a comprehensive fact-checking initiative, empowering communities with verified and accurate information. SafetyComm, also established in 2021, tackles cyber threats and provides support for victims of online harm. Funded by the National Communication Authority, the platform has addressed over 350 incidents, ranging from social media account hacking and cyberbullying to ransomware and cyber extortion. SafetyComm’s mission, "Provide a safer digital experience for citizens by reducing all forms of harm resulting from cyber threats," underscores its proactive approach through the pillars of Communicate, Protect, and Educate.
Meanwhile #defyhatenow global has significantly expanded its mission and operations globally under the leadership of r0g Agency and other partners. From its origins in addressing hate speech and misinformation in South Sudan, #defyhatenow has extended its initiatives to other countries, including Cameroon and Ethiopia, while adapting to the evolving challenges of the digital age.
#defyhatenow South Sudan's rebranding to DRF was necessitated by the need to expand the work to a border focus on promoting digital rights, combating disinformation, and safeguarding individuals' online freedoms across borders.
As Digital Rights Frontlines, the organization continues to advocate for an inclusive and safer digital experience for all. It remains dedicated to addressing hate speech, misinformation, and other digital rights challenges, leveraging its expanded mandate to empower communities, enhance media literacy, and foster cyber safety.
