Digital activists challenge Uganda's harsh new internet law

The new law proposes jail terms of up to seven years in some cases, including for offenses related to the transmission of information about a person without their consent. [iStockphoto]

A group of Ugandan activists launched a legal challenge Monday to controversial new legislation criminalizing some internet activity in the East African country.

Their petition to the constitutional court argues that the description of computer-related crimes in the bill enacted with President Yoweri Museveni's signature last week violates the right to freedom of expression and criminalizes some digital work, including investigative journalism.