Africa Digital Rights Hub

Africa’s biggest gathering on data protection and privacy is here! This December, leaders, innovators, and experts converge in Accra, Ghana for the Data Protection Africa Summit 2025 — under the theme “Defining Africa’s Digital Future: From Consumerism to Partnership.” Be part of the conversations shaping Africa’s digital destiny. 📍 Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra 📅 1st – 4th December 2025 🔗 Register now: dataprotectionafrica.org #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfrica #DigitalFuture #PrivacySummit #AfricaTech #CyberAwareness

⏳ 1 DAY LEFT As digital transformation efforts accelerate across Africa, questions around systems, governance, and societal impact remain more important than ever. Africa’s Digital Transformation Taking Stock: Aligning Systems, Society, and Power — a UCLA Series — convenes tomorrow in Accra. 📅 Thursday, March 19 🕐 1:30 PM 📍 Best Western Airport Residential In partnership with the Africa Digital Rights Hub and the Africa Center for Digital Transformation ⚠️ Limited seats available Join the conversation. Register now: bit.ly/4sKRu8P #ADRH #DigitalTransformation #DigitalRights #AfricaTech

Africa’s digital transformation is evolving — but are our systems, institutions, and societies aligned? Join the Africa Digital Rights Hub, UCLA and Africa Center for Digital Transformation for: Africa’s Digital Transformation: Taking Stock – Aligning Systems, Society, and Power 📅 March 19 | 1:30 PM 📍 Best Western Airport Residential A timely conversation on governance, inequality, and the future of digital systems in Africa. Register now: bit.ly/4sKRu8P #DigitalTransformation #DigitalRights #AfricaTech

Across Africa, governments are investing heavily in digital identity, e-government, fintech, and data-driven public services. But a key question remains: Why do many digital initiatives struggle to scale, sustain trust, or deliver long-term public value? On March 19, the Africa Digital Rights Hub is partnering with UCLA and Africa Center for Digital Transformation to host: Africa’s Digital Transformation: Taking Stock – Aligning Systems, Society, and Power 📍 Best Western Airport Residential 📅 March 19 | 1:30 PM Register now: bit.ly/4sKRu8P #ADRH #DigitalRights #DigitalTransformation #TechPolicy

Executive Roundtable Series: Cybersecurity and Digital Trust in Africa Africa’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, bringing new opportunities — and new challenges around governance, cybersecurity, and digital trust. Join the conversation on how leaders can strengthen resilient and trustworthy digital systems across the continent. 📅 31 March 2026 🔗 Register now: bit.ly/4cA41XR #ADRH #Cybersecurity #DigitalGovernance

At the 2025 Data Protection Africa Summit (#DPAS2025), Jenna Franklin, VP – Assistant General Counsel for Data Governance, Privacy and Cybersecurity at Cencora, delivered a keynote on “Embedding Data Protection for Safer Digital Health Ecosystems.” During her presentation, Franklin emphasized that strong data protection is not just a legal obligation. It is a frontline defence against malinformation in digital health systems. Measures such as strict access controls, rapid breach detection, and responsible communication play a critical role in protecting both patient data and public trust. She pointed to Rwanda as a compelling example of how strong governance and political will can enable digital health systems that are both ambitious and safe. Through investments in broadband connectivity, telehealth, and innovative solutions such as drone delivery of medical supplies, Rwanda has expanded access to primary healthcare while strengthening its digital health infrastructure. At the same time, the country implemented a comprehensive data protection and privacy law, empowered a national cybersecurity authority as the supervisory body, and launched nationwide awareness efforts to ensure hospitals and clinics comply with data protection and cybersecurity standards. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #DigitalHealth #HealthData #DataProtection #Privacy #DigitalGovernance #ADRH

At the 2025 Data Protection Africa Summit #DPAS2025, Jenna Franklin, VP – Assistant General Counsel for Data Governance, Privacy and Cybersecurity at Cencora, delivered a keynote on “Embedding Data Protection for Safer Digital Health Ecosystems.” In her remarks, Franklin explored the relationship between trust, loyalty, and accountability in digital health systems. Patients share deeply personal health information because they believe it will be used responsibly and to protect them from harm. That trust, she noted, places a profound responsibility on the institutions that collect and manage that data. She cautioned that trust can quickly turn into betrayal when organizations quietly monetize de-identified health data, deploy AI trained on patient data without transparent governance or benefit sharing, or fail to communicate openly when breaches occur. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #DigitalHealth #HealthData #DataProtection #Privacy #DigitalGovernance #ADRH

Women must be at the centre of digital transformation. As we mark International Women’s Day, we are highlighting key insights from Africa’s Digital Transformation Agenda & the Role of Women Report Building an inclusive digital future requires policies and programmes that reflect the lived realities, perspectives, and experiences of women across Africa. Download the full report: bit.ly/47sMwVV #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInTech #DigitalRights #GenderEquality #ADRH

As part of our #InternationalWomensDay celebration, we are highlighting an important report by the Africa Digital Rights Hub (ADRH) on women’s role in Africa’s digital transformation. The report explores how digital policies, infrastructure, and education systems can better support women and girls to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. It also provides key recommendations on closing the gender digital divide, improving digital access, and strengthening women’s leadership in technology and innovation across Africa. We invite everyone — policymakers, researchers, advocates, and the tech community — to read and engage with the report. Download and read the full report here: bit.ly/47sMwVV #IWD2026 #AccelerateAction #WomenInTech #DigitalRights #GenderAndTechnology #ADRH

This #InternationalWomensDay, the Africa Digital Rights Hub (ADRH) celebrates the remarkable women across the continent who are championing digital rights, data protection, cybersecurity, and child online safety. From researchers and advocates to policymakers and technologists, women are shaping conversations and building systems that ensure a safer, more inclusive digital future for Africa. Today, we honour the women whose work continues to strengthen digital rights and digital justice across Africa. #IWD2026 #DigitalRights #WomenInTech #WomenInDigitalRights #AfricaDigitalRights

#ADRH at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 We are proud to share that our Executive Director, Teki Akuetteh, will be speaking at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026, taking place 10–12 March 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. 🇷🇼 The Inclusive FinTech Forum is a global platform on financial inclusion and fintech for good, bringing together leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to shape the future of inclusive digital finance. We look forward to engaging with global partners and shaping conversations on fintech that works for everyone. #DigitalRights #FintechForGood #FinancialInclusion #ADRH #IFF2026 #DigitalAfrica 🌐

Happy 69th Independence Day, Ghana! As Ghana celebrates its independence, the Africa Digital Rights Hub reaffirms the importance of protecting digital rights in today’s connected world. We remain committed to advancing research, dialogue, and capacity building across Africa. Here’s to building a free, secure, and rights-respecting digital future for Africa. #GhanaAt69 #DigitalRights #ADRH

During a panel discussion on “Behavioural Data, AI & Digital Sovereignty in Africa” at the 2025 Data Protection Africa Summit #DPAS2025, Srikanth Mangalam, Founder and President of the Prism Institute, urged participants to look beyond legal frameworks when addressing behavioural data governance. He argued that the challenge is not only legal but also deeply sociological, raising important questions about power and citizen agency. For digital governance to work, citizens must be empowered with the information needed to understand both the risks and the benefits of how their data is used. He pointed to the example of Canada’s First Nations Information Governance Centre and its OCAP principles of ownership, control, access and possession, highlighting how communities can assert greater control over their data and participate meaningfully in decisions that affect them. His intervention emphasized that meaningful digital sovereignty requires not only regulation but also empowered citizens and a fair balance of power in data governance. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #DigitalSovereignty #BehavioralData #AIinAfrica #DataGovernance #CitizenEmpowerment #DigitalRights #ADRH

During a panel discussion on “Behavioural Data, AI & Digital Sovereignty in Africa” at the 2025 Data Protection Africa Summit #DPAS2025, Dr. Ololade Shyllon, Director of Privacy and Data Policy for Africa, the Middle East and Türkiye at Meta, reflected on the unique risks behavioural data can pose within the African context. She noted that behavioural data can sometimes reveal or infer sensitive personal information, which may have serious real-world consequences. In regions where factors such as ethnicity, religion, and other deeply rooted social dynamics shape everyday life, the misuse or exposure of such data can extend beyond the digital space and impact individuals offline. Her intervention highlighted the need for context-aware data governance, ensuring that the management and protection of behavioural data reflects the social and cultural realities across African countries. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #BehavioralData #AIinAfrica #DigitalSovereignty #DataProtection #DigitalGovernance #ADRH

During a panel discussion on “Behavioural Data, AI & Digital Sovereignty in Africa” at the 2025 Data Protection Africa Summit #DPAS2025, Drudeisha Madhub, Data Protection Commissioner of Mauritius, highlighted the growing governance challenges surrounding AI systems. She noted that AI is increasingly becoming critical infrastructure within organisations, yet the way it is managed often lacks transparency. With many organisations relying on third-party vendors and cloud systems, it is becoming harder to clearly understand where sensitive data resides, what is being shared, and the implications when breaches or data rights violations occur. Dr. Madhub emphasised that these risks cannot be effectively addressed without strong AI governance frameworks, urging organisational leadership to treat AI governance as a strategic priority. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #AIinAfrica #AIGovernance #DigitalSovereignty #DataProtection #DigitalGovernance #ADRH

As Africa’s digital ecosystem grows, the question of digital trust becomes more urgent. How can governments, companies, and institutions build systems that people trust? What lessons can Africa offer the world about responsible digital governance? On 31 March 2026, Teki Akuetteh, Founder and Executive Director of the Africa Digital Rights Hub, will contribute to an executive roundtable on Cybersecurity and Digital Trust in Africa, exploring how governance, accountability, and leadership shape trustworthy digital systems. The Africa Digital Rights Hub is pleased to partner with Eunomia Risk Advisory, Inc. and the African Corporate Governance Network for this important conversation. 🗓 Tuesday, 31 March 2026 ⏰ 12:00 – 1:30 PM GMT 🔗 Register: bit.ly/4u1NWkb #ADRH #Cybersecurity #DigitalGovernance #DataProtection #AfricaTech #DigitalRights

Continuing her keynote “Behavioural Data, AI & Digital Sovereignty in Africa” at #DPAS2025,Ms Teki Akuetteh framed digital sovereignty as a question of choice and power, not abstraction. She posed a defining challenge: Will Africa’s behavioural data fuel innovation elsewhere while the continent remains a consumer? Will African AI systems reflect African values, languages, and identities, or inherit them from others? Her message was unequivocal. Digital sovereignty requires decisive political action. By strengthening data protection systems, investing in African infrastructure, harnessing AI responsibly, and aligning across the continent, Africa can move from being a source of raw data to a creator of intelligence. She concluded with a call for collective action to ensure Africa is not merely regulated by global norms, but actively shapes them deliberately, ethically, and together. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #DigitalSovereignty #AIinAfrica #BehavioralData #DataProtection #DigitalGovernance #AfricaLeads #ADRH

At #DPAS2025, Teki Akuetteh, Executive Director of the Africa Digital Rights Hub, delivered a keynote titled “Behavioural Data, AI & Digital Sovereignty in Africa.” She challenged the audience with fundamental questions shaping Africa’s digital future: Who owns Africa’s behavioural data? Who governs it? Who benefits from it? And who ultimately controls Africa’s AI future? Her keynote examined how behavioural data now powers the digital economy, while AI systems increasingly infer sensitive traits such as political preferences, health risks, and emotions, often without consent or transparency. She warned that opaque algorithmic decision-making and advanced profiling pose serious risks of exclusion, manipulation, and weakened democratic processes. She further noted that much of Africa’s behavioural data is held by global technology companies operating outside the effective reach of African regulators, creating power imbalances that undermine institutional autonomy and digital self-determination. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #DigitalSovereignty #BehavioralData #AIandSociety #DataGovernance #Privacy #AfricaDigitalFuture #ADRH

During the panel on “Consent, Guardianship and Rights: Who Speaks for the African Child?” at #DPAS2025, Antoinette Essilfie spotlighted a critical gap in child online protection: consent cannot work if those giving it are not digitally equipped. She reflected on the reality that while parents and guardians are expected to safeguard children online, many lack the digital literacy to understand how platforms work — sometimes unknowingly exposing children by sharing their content online themselves. Her intervention underscored that guardians are the first line of protection for the African child, yet most are excluded from digital safety conversations. Without deliberate efforts to build their capacity and awareness, consent risks becoming symbolic rather than protective. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #ChildOnlineProtection #DigitalConsent #Guardianship #OnlineSafety #DigitalLiteracy #ProtectTheAfricanChild #ADRH

During the panel discussion on “Consent, Guardianship and Rights: Who Speaks for the African Child?” at #DPAS2025, Sam Bartels urged a rethink of how Africa approaches child online protection. He stressed that consent is not a tick-box exercise, it must be meaningful, and that guardianship should protect children without silencing them. The African child, he argued, must be heard, not merely spoken to, and child online protection must strike a balance between safety and empowerment, not compliance alone. His remarks reinforced that the future of African children online cannot be left to chance. It must be consciously shaped and actively protected. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #ChildOnlineProtection #DigitalSafety #AgeAppropriateDesign #PlatformAccountability #DigitalRights #ProtectTheAfricanChild #ADRH

At #DPAS2025, during her keynote “Consent, Guardianship and Rights: Who Speaks for the African Child?”, Igxtelle Dopgima, Managing Attorney at Igxtelle Law Group PLLC, delivered a sobering warning on the evolving risks facing children online. She highlighted how AI “friendship” bots can groom children around the clock, manipulating emotions, normalising harmful sexual conversations, and creating false intimacy. In this emerging reality, she warned, predators no longer need to initiate contact — AI systems can groom children on their behalf. Her keynote underscored an urgent truth that as digital technologies evolve, so must child protection frameworks, safeguards, and accountability mechanisms. #DPAS2025 #DataProtectionAfricaSummit #ChildOnlineProtection #AIandChildren #DigitalHarm #OnlineSafety #DataProtection #ADRH