By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African Union has
reiterated the need for stronger online safety, digital resilience and data
protection as Africa accelerates efforts to build a trusted and inclusive
digital economy.
The call was highlighted by
H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and
Energy, during an Internet Society leadership luncheon held on the margins of
the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York.
Mataboge joined
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General H.E. Doreen
Bogdan-Martin and Internet Society President and CEO Sally Wentworth for
discussions on how technological progress can remain open, trusted, safe and
beneficial to people and institutions.
The discussions focused on
the policy and institutional measures needed to ensure that Africa's digital
transformation is supported by secure and resilient digital systems.
For Africa, the AU said this
includes strengthening online safety, building digital resilience and ensuring
robust protection of data and information as more people, businesses and public
institutions depend on digital technologies.
The priorities form part of
the broader continental digital transformation agenda, which seeks to create an
enabling environment for digital technologies to support economic development,
regional integration and social inclusion.
The AU's Digital
Transformation Strategy for Africa provides a framework for advancing digital
infrastructure and services across the continent, while the AU Continental
Artificial Intelligence Strategy addresses the development and deployment of AI
in ways that support Africa's development priorities.
Together, these frameworks
place digital infrastructure, trust, safety and resilience among the
considerations shaping Africa's digital future.
