The use of digital technology systems, including artificial intelligence, fingerprint, and facial recognition systems, has gained significant prominence in Africa, as is the case in other regions around the world.
However, the procurement and deployment of these systems have quite often been riddled with corruption and lack of transparency on the one hand and human rights concerns, including illegal surveillance and infringements on the rights of legitimate politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, and activists on the other.
AFIC conducted research in 2021 on the procurement and deployment of digital technology systems in Liberia, Nigeria, and Uganda, and in 2024 research in 7 countries—Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
The main findings included gaps in respect of protection of privacy, procurement, illegal surveillance, disclosure, obligations, and lack of access to information in relation to DTS across the 7 countries.
AFIC and our members have identified several measures to increase the uptake of the research, including:
a. requesting for information on illegal surveillance,
b. awareness raising at national level,
c. documenting case studies on occurrences and trends patterns of illegal surveillance
d. strategic litigation
e) Building partnerships to realize these objectives in a challenging funding and civic space environment.
This paper was presented by the Executive Director of Africa Freedom of Information Centre at the 2025 OGP Africa and the Middle East Regional Meeting in Nairobi from March 25-27, 2025
