TechnologyAugust 19, 2026

disenfranchisement

dis-in-FRAN-chiz-ment

Definition

The act of depriving an individual or group of their legal rights, privileges, or the power to participate in an organization's governance or decision-making process.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix 'dis-' (meaning 'do the opposite of' or 'deprive') attached to 'enfranchisement,' which comes from the Old French 'enfranchir' ('to set free'). It originally referred to stripping someone of their status as a citizen or their right to vote.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the risk that overly strict administrative verification requirements could unfairly block members from exercising their voting rights. It argues that a proper system should avoid such exclusion while still maintaining order.

AFRINIC’s Constitution Is Africa’s Next Internet Stress Test

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