Balancing Innovation, Privacy, and Digital Rights
Africa’s rapid digital transformation offers significant opportunities for economic growth and societal progress, driven by increasing internet connectivity, expanding digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies. However, these advancements impact data privacy, user safety, and digital rights, particularly in countries with underdeveloped regulatory frameworks. Data governance has emerged as a cornerstone of the digital economy, yet, many African countries face significant gaps in their data governance frameworks, which hinder their ability to safeguard personal information, mitigate cybersecurity threats, and address the ethical challenges posed by AI. While 74% of African countries have data protection laws, enforcement remains weak, and some lack the specificity needed to address AI-related risks. These gaps underscore the urgency of robust, context-specific data governance policies that prioritize user safety and digital rights.