State of Data Governance in Africa
Many countries in the Majority World lack clear governance practices on data collection and use, especially when compared to their counterparts in developed countries. Although some developing countries have established offices for National Statistics or similar entities, there have been few large-scale projects to collect and analyze data beyond traditional methods such as census and sample surveys. This has resulted in insufficient governance around data, especially with regard to recent practices of big data collection, analytics, and insights. As big data analytics continue to rise, concerns regarding privacy and discrimination have emerged due to the loss of control over personal data. This article will classify the different forms of data that exist and examine how various frameworks for personal data protection and open data policy govern them. It will also address the potential risks and benefits of these frameworks.
