What does the AU Data Policy Framework mean for African Digital Enterprises?

The AU Data Policy Framework is a document that provides guidance and recommendations for African countries to develop and implement data policies that support the digital transformation and economic integration of the continent. It also aims to foster a harmonized and interoperable data ecosystem that enables the free and secure flow of data across borders, while respecting human rights, privacy, and data protection. It serves more as a guideline than hard and fast rules but where are we right now?

State of data protection on the continent

Africa did not have a universally adopted Data policy framework but rather each country was drafting a policy within that country's jurisdiction. In Africa, a total of 33 countries have implemented legislation on data protection and privacy, 6 are in the draft legislation phase, and 19 either have no legislation or have no data available. The main aspects of these policies have so far been focused on 2 main aspects. The protection of personal data with cyber security standards to reduce the prevalence of access to personal data by unauthorized actors. The other is standards for systems that house data to reduce vulnerability to cyber attacks.

For a continent-wide data protection bill to be adopted is no mean feat. It involves institutional changes to the way individual countries and their institutional entities handle data. A certain level of standardization of data in how it is collected, processed, and stored means standardized systems and protocols at hardware and software levels across the board and across borders.

First and foremost, the lack of regulations across the continent underscores the need for resources. There is not enough funding allocated toward government employees training or creating entities within the government that could be responsible for data protection and privacy, in general.

(International Association of Privacy Professionals )IAPP