Towards an Inclusive Data Governance Policy for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Africa

14 Pages Posted: 19 Oct 2023

See all articles by Jake Okechukwu Effoduh

Jake Okechukwu Effoduh

Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium

Ugochukwu Ejike Akpudo

Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium

Jude Dzevela Kong

Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium (ACADIC); University of Toronto

Date Written: September 23, 2023

Abstract

This paper proposes five ideas that the design of data governance policies for the inclusive use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa should consider. The first is for African states to carry out an assessment of their domestic strategic priorities, strengths, and weaknesses. The second is a human-centric approach to data governance which involves data processing practices that protect security of personal data and privacy of data subjects; ensures that personal data is processed in a fair, lawful, and accountable manner; minimize the harmful effect of personal data misuse or abuse on data subjects and other victims; and promote a beneficial, trusted use of personal data. The third is for the data policy to be in alignment with supranational rights-respecting AI standards like the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the AU Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection. The fourth is for states to be critical about the extent that AI systems can be relied on in certain public sectors or departments. The fifth and final proposition is for the need to prioritize the use of representative and interoperable data and ensuring a transparent procurement process for AI systems from abroad where no local options exist.

Keywords: Data Governance Policy, Artificial Intelligence, Africa, Inclusive Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights

Suggested Citation

Effoduh, Jake Okechukwu and Akpudo, Ugochukwu Ejike and Kong, Jude Dzevela, Towards an Inclusive Data Governance Policy for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Africa (September 23, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4581619 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4581619

Jake Okechukwu Effoduh

Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium

Ugochukwu Ejike Akpudo

Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium

Jude Dzevela Kong (Contact Author)

Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium (ACADIC) ( email )

University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario M5R 0A3
Canada

University of Toronto ( email )

105 St George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8
Canada

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