In a high-stakes conversation that highlighted the complexities of data sovereignty, Teki Akuetteh, Senior Partner at Nsiah Akuetteh & Co. and Founder & Executive Director at the Africa Digital Rights Hub, provided sharp insights during a recent interview with CNBC Africa's Kenneth Igbomo. Akuetteh drew clear parallels between data sovereignty and national sovereignty, noting that both are intrinsically linked given today's data-driven world.
Akuetteh remarked, "Data sovereignty is essentially about sovereignty, and so I would say that data sovereignty is not really distinct from national sovereignty." This assertion underscores a larger narrative about how global data is generated and shared, often stripping countries, particularly those in Africa, of autonomy over their data.
The African continent stands at a critical juncture with burgeoning technological development and consumer market potentials. However, Akuetteh pointed out that Africa remains primarily a consumer in the tech space rather than a creator. This positions countries on the continent in a vulnerable place when it comes to establishing strongholds in data sovereignty. She also raised concerns about who has access to citizens' data and the extent of government control over this data, emphasizing it as a pressing global and continental issue.
Reflecting on the current landscape, Akuetteh shared that, "About 39 countries now have data protection laws," and while this represents notable progress, the ground reality demands more robust infrastructures and policy frameworks. For Akuetteh, legislation must go beyond paper and be accompanied by a shift in mindset among citizens and industries to foster a culture of responsible data management and sovereignty.
Big tech holds the keys to defining the pace and integration of data localization or 'de-globalization' of data, which Akuetteh acknowledged could potentially slow innovation. The challenge, according to Akuetteh, is achieving balance -- not allowing localized data policies to stifle technological progress while ensuring such policies are structured well enough to protect national interests. Innovation must be seamlessly integrated into the push for data sovereignty, supported by potent and agile infrastructures capable of global competition.
Discussing infrastructural imperatives, Akuetteh was candid about the need for urgent investment. She highlighted the expected $9 billion growth in the data center market in Nigeria over the coming years but compared it with California's robust infrastructure to stress the gap Africa needs to bridge to compete on a global stage.
"To determine who wins this infrastructure race in Africa: it's who gets in first... We're already too late," Akuetteh stated sharply, "but it's not too late to start something." For meaningful strides in data sovereignty, policies must prioritize internal data management capabilities and invest in versatile infrastructure.
A key theme in Akuetteh's discourse was the necessity of intra-African collaboration and harmonization of data rules across the continent. The fragmentation of frameworks presents an opportunity for synergy, allowing the continent to leverage existing regional and international agreements to craft cohesive, resilient data protection policies.
While recognizing the obstacles, Akuetteh ended on an optimistic note, emphasizing the importance of being strategic: "We need to be very strategic in order to ensure that we can achieve something meaningful within our countries and our ecosystem that benefits us." It is a stark reminder of the task ahead, but also a call to action for Africa to seize the moment to navigate the digital age on its terms.