The collapse of RightsCon in Zambia is being viewed as a significant setback and a warning for the future of digital rights across Africa.

African media outlets have initiated a boycott of events in Lusaka, Zambia, following a significant diplomatic and civic crisis that emerged from the continent's largest digital rights summit, RightsCon.

Zambia has cancelled RightsCon 2026, the world's largest conference on human rights and technology, just days before its scheduled start, citing a lack of alignment with national values.