The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) stands to pose a significant threat to African democracies. For instance, some African countries like Egypt and Uganda have leveraged AI technologies to reinforce authoritarian practices by using AI-driven surveillance systems to monitor and suppress dissent. To counter AI’s potential to undermine democracy, governments should implement measures that specifically safeguard civil liberties like data privacy and anti-surveillance laws, and prevent AI misuse, more so by state agencies. Additionally, citizens should be educated on AI’s risks and benefits. Civil society groups, in collaboration with independent watchdogs, should establish oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 Democracy Index, Africa’s average democracy score is 4.04 out of 10. This index—calculated based on factors such as electoral process, civil liberties, government functioning, political participation, and political culture—reflects the overall quality of governance in African countries. This alarming data is a cause for concern, especially as the misuse of AI in governance, such as the enabling of mass surveillance and the suppression of dissent, exacerbates existing governance overreach on private citizens.
On the positive side, we have seen how AI can improve transparency and civic engagement. For example, in Kenya and Zambia, election officials used AI-powered devices to minimize fraud and combat disinformation. The move helped improve election monitoring. Despite opportunities like these, AI’s application in governance poses serious risks that threaten democratic values such as exacerbating authoritarian practices and undermining citizens’ freedoms.
Across Africa, the adoption of AI technologies is outpacing the development of measures to prevent AI from violating citizens’ privacy. Presently, only 7 out of 54 African countries have developed national AI strategies, which are currently at different stages of implementation. The lack of AI regulations creates a gap that authoritarian regimes can exploit.
One of the most immediate risks AI poses is the expansion of mass surveillance, which is already being deployed under the guise of national security or public safety. For instance, Egypt has reportedly employed digital tactics to restrict social media access and surveil online communications.. In Uganda, AI-driven social media monitoring was used to suppress dissent during the 2021 elections. These actions highlight the risks associated with unchecked AI deployment by state agencies. With many African countries struggling to establish strong democratic institutions, such practices can easily become tools of repression.
The African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection provides an opportunity for a unified African vision of AI governance. The convention outlines best practices for protecting digital rights. It suggests that governments should cooperate and create AI policies that prioritize data privacy and protect civil liberties. If correctly implemented, these policies will create a unified framework to prevent AI misuse as a tool of repression by state agencies. Moderate oversight will provide legal protection for citizens and signal a commitment to human rights.
Another pressing issue is citizens’ lack of AI literacy, which leaves them vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation. With support from tech companies, Ministries of Education should incorporate AI literacy into school curricula and launch national public campaigns to inform citizens about AI’s implications for democracy. Increasing public knowledge will empower citizens to engage productively and cautiously with AI.
The absence of independent oversight mechanisms leaves a vacuum for governments to use AI without accountability. To checkmate these loopholes, more African countries should establish independent committees to monitor AI’s use by state agencies. For example, South Africa’s Information Regulator ensures compliance with data protection laws, while Kenya’s National Commission on Human Rights advocates for human rights in technology use. Such bodies are well-suited to oversee AI governance because their foundation in human rights frameworks ensures they can hold governments accountable and safeguard digital rights. Adopting similar oversight bodies will limit the unethical use of AI technologies by governments and other entities involved in AI deployment.
As AI becomes a significant part of governance, African democracies face opportunities and threats. While AI can potentially improve democratic processes, it poses significant risks if misused. AI tools should empower Africans, not silence them.
Rabelani Mulaudzi is a writing fellow at African Liberty.
First appeared in Modern Ghana.
Photo by Michael Dziedzic via Unsplash.