Data Privacy Law in Africa: Emerging Perspectives | Dr. Lukman Abdulrauf

This episode of the Civic Tech in Africa podcast continues the discussion on understanding data privacy on the African continent. The conversation focuses on the importance of data protection and the independence of data protection authorities. Dr. Lukman Abdul-Rauf, an associate professor in the Department of Public Law at the University of Illorin in Nigeria, joins the discussion. They explore the growth of the tech space in Africa, the implications of this growth, and the challenges faced in establishing independent data protection authorities. The conversation also highlights the key topics covered in the book 'Data Privacy Law in Africa, Emerging Perspectives'.

Keywords
data privacy, data protection, African continent, tech space, independence, data protection authorities

Takeaways
- Data protection is an important issue for the African continent and should be seen as a fundamental human right.
- The tech space in Africa is growing rapidly, with high internet penetration rates and a shift towards online services.
- Establishing independent data protection authorities is crucial for enforcing data privacy laws and holding both private entities and governments accountable.
- The African Union plays a significant role in ensuring compliance with data privacy norms, but more needs to be done to strengthen its enforcement mechanisms.
- Challenges in establishing independent data protection authorities include funding, political interference, and a lack of understanding of the implications of data privacy laws.
- The book 'Data Privacy Law in Africa, Emerging Perspectives' covers a range of contemporary issues in data privacy, including the intersection of data privacy and artificial intelligence, the protection of vulnerable groups, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.