The article discusses the ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia, particularly focusing on the clashes over the country's national identity and the violence in regions such as Oromia and Tigray. Global Voices conducted two periods of research to analyze the patterns within Ethiopia’s media ecosystem, with a focus on issues of national and ethnic identity and the Tigray conflict. The assassination of Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa and the subsequent internet shutdown, as well as opposition to the Tigray conflict, were highlighted as significant events. The research, which was qualitative in nature, observed the shifting narratives in Ethiopian media, the media's dependence on government authority, the influence of the Ethiopian diaspora, and rapid narrative changes regarding the Tigray conflict. The data set included 336 media items from over 170 sources, and the study identified 47 themes and 59 narrative frames.

In Ethiopia, pervasive government surveillance creates a climate of fear, leading to self-censorship among citizens. The government monitors communications, blocks critical websites, employs surveillance software, and prosecutes individuals for their online activities. The author, a victim of such surveillance, translated the Surveillance Self-Defense guide into Amharic to empower Ethiopians with knowledge to protect their privacy. Despite challenges such as a lack of standardized technology terms in Amharic, the translation aims to confront state surveillance and promote digital safety practices.