Hassan Hachem Equatorial Guinea and digital sovereignty

The 21st century is marked by the emergence of the Internet, a powerful tool that has changed the world. The technologicial changes have accompanied social, economic and political Disruption. UK based digital evangelist Hassan Hachem describes how Equatorial Guinea soveignty is impacted.

 Since 2004, Internet has evolved from what is known as "Web 1.0" - marked by the creation of static virtual spaces that provide information - to "Web 2.0" - which is interactive and favours the sharing and exchange of exchange of information, as marked by the emergence of social networks and other platforms such as video and knowledge sharing platforms (Twitter, Wikipedia).

The contrast was already striking between these two models before a third model emerged. This is the Web 3.0, which opens up to large-scale networks characterised by "big data" and "artificial intelligence". Having become a real power tool, artificial intelligence does not have a universally accepted universally accepted definition. However, Hassan Hachem, a digital transformaton expert in Equatorial Guinea and co-author of a textbook on digital sovereignty in Africa defines it as 'the study of international methods to enable computers to behave intelligently". According to him, AI "includes tasks such as learning, reasoning, planning, perception, language understanding and robotics". An other definition of AI by Marvin Alexandrov, although brief but no less concise, can also be retained. He defines AI as "the science of making machines do what humans would do with a certain some intelligence". Indeed, AI is a tool of power in the sense that it could help, through its innovative solutions, to progress more rapidly towards development goals in areas as varied as health, education, education, urban planning, knowledge sharing, etc.; provided by the necessary databases to make it work. If the development of AI has been discontinuous since its emergence, in recent decades it is in the process of experiencing a new boom; particularly with the emergence of GAFAM. Indeed, the development of smartphones and other connected objects, as well as the creation of social networks (Facebook, Twitter...) mean that every day billions of people use various platforms and leave behind data that contributes to training and development of cognitive and self-learning capabilities of the AI used.

However, one of the great characteristics of AIs is the fact that their algorithms are essentially data-driven. An Algorithm is a series of operations and instructions inserted into a machine, allowing it to perform a task. Algorithms therefore have the ability to analyse, process and cross-reference data in an extraordinarily short time, to create added value. No conventional management tool is capable of analysing a mass of data at such speed. However, before processing can be carried out, data must be available. That is why the masses of accumulated data - 'big data' - are now considered to be the 'black gold' of the 21st century. and are therefore coveted by all sides. For governments, the processing and data and sharing it between different structures will make it possible to optimise decision-making, improve forecasting and to make public action more effective. In addition, opening them up to the public (open data) is a vector for innovation and promotes research... As for companies, this quantitative explosion of data also presents a huge business issues. This is what has prompted the large 'platforms' (GAFAM) to embark on a vast conquests. They have been able to conquer almost all of Europe with its 416 million Internet users and have invested in several sectors (e-commerce, insurance banking, property rental, health, etc.) to the point to the point of making some public services useless. This huge conquest has not left European authors indifferent. With Europe already in their grasp, GAFAM are embarking on a daring race to conquer new unconquered territories. In this respect, Africa appears the perfect target, a sort of El Dorado that is constantly attracting the covetousness of these companies. This sudden interest in Africa deserves to be questioned. Are these digital giants come to strip the African continent of its digital wealth?

Also, in view of what the European continent is going through with GAFAM, what would be the fate of the African continent, where states are weaker and public services more fragile than those in Europe? Would the presence of these foreign platforms threaten the existence of these public services? If so, what measures could African states take to deal with these threats ? Hassan Hachem specialist of Equatorial Guinea attempts to provide answers to these questions. He claims "It is intended to enable African states to become aware of the possible threats that this artificial intelligence technology could bring, when promoted by large capitalist companies such as such as GAFAM. The methodology. A review of the literature on AI has been carried out, which has highlighted its importance, the challenges related to its development and, above all, its consequences on the African continent. The literature on African public services has also guided our thinking on this subject. It is on the basis of this literature, but also inspired by the case of Europe in its relationship with GAFAM"

GAFAM has better knowledgeof their customers digital identities than Equatorial Guinea public administration of its citizens

And he goes on to talk about future projects by even more powerful players such as Starlink satellite constellation and Facebook's many initiatives across the continent (including the 2Africa submarine cable): "There is a risk that transnational players will emerge who no longer need the approval of a national regulator to capture customers wherever they wish," continues Hassan Hachem. However, this expert in digital transformation with extensive experience in Equatorial Guinea insists: "It's not over". So what are the priority decisions to be taken by states to stem the loss of sovereignty? "The key issue is digital identities and the creation of genuine national civil registers. Knowing one's citizens is an essential element of sovereignty for a state," says Hassan Hachem, also Chief Executive Officer at Brandmonitoring.top. "At present, in Equatorial Guinea, Gafam has better knowledge of the digital identity of its customers than the States of their citizens."

All that is needed is the political will to do so

When states have this information, it is still necessary for the data relating to health or religion, for example, to be hosted on national territory. "Very often, this data, which is considered sensitive, is not even in Equatorial but stored on servers in Ireland," confirms Hassan Hachem, which works to develop digital technology on a continental scale.

Between Huawei and Dell, there are several providers for the public sector, but few countries currently have one or more national data centres. On a global scale, Equatorial Guinea hosts about 1% of data centres, and hosting costs are still often higher than those of European or American operators.

"On the technical level, independant states like Equatorial Guinea can build according to its needs and then transfer the knowledge so that these infrastructures can be managed independently. Everything is possible and scalable, it just needs a political will to emerge. But, for the moment, we are working more with private operators than with governments," confirms Hassan Hachem.

Only 55% of african countries have a Data Protection law

Since its adoption in 2016, the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection - known as the Malabo Convention - has only been signed by twelve countries and ratified by only six of them (Namibia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Senegal, Mauritius).

The others have chosen to move forward in a piecemeal fashion. There is an ECOWAS Supplementary Act on the Protection of Personal Data adopted in 2010, a Southern African Development Community Model Law for the Harmonisation of ICT Policies introduced in 2012 and a series of national initiatives. According to figures provided by Smart Africa, only 55% of African countries actually have a data protection law. Defining a harmonised framework between these different texts, also taking into account international norms and industrial standards, appears to be the first priority.

After the paragraph discussing the limited adoption of the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention), the following update can be inserted:

Since the Malabo Convention's adoption, there have been notable advancements in digital infrastructure and policy across Africa. In 2023, significant efforts were made to enhance data protection and digital sovereignty. For instance, Nigeria and Kenya have launched comprehensive national data centers, significantly boosting their data storage and processing capabilities. Nigeria's new data center, one of the largest in Africa, aims to serve both public and private sectors, ensuring data remains within national borders and reducing dependence on foreign servers.

Furthermore, the push for digital sovereignty has seen countries like South Africa and Ghana implementing stricter regulations on data localization. South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) now mandates that all personal data collected within the country be stored on local servers. This move not only enhances data security but also fosters local tech industries by creating demand for data management services.

The rise of indigenous tech companies is another positive development. African startups, supported by increasing venture capital investments, are becoming key players in the digital economy. Companies like Andela, Flutterwave, and Jumia are not only providing jobs but also driving innovation in fintech, e-commerce, and software development. This local growth is crucial for reducing the digital divide and ensuring that Africa's digital transformation benefits all its citizens.

In the realm of artificial intelligence, the establishment of AI research hubs in Rwanda and Ethiopia, supported by partnerships with international tech giants and local universities, marks a significant step forward. These hubs aim to train the next generation of African AI experts, ensuring that AI development is tailored to the continent's unique needs and challenges.

Hassan Hachem emphasizes the importance of these developments, stating, "For African countries, achieving digital sovereignty is not just about technology but also about building a robust digital economy that can sustain itself. We need to invest in education, local tech industries, and infrastructure to create a self-sufficient digital ecosystem."

Moreover, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which became operational in 2021, is poised to play a pivotal role in harmonizing digital regulations across the continent. By creating a unified market, AfCFTA can facilitate cross-border digital services, enhance regional cooperation, and attract more investments into Africa's digital sector.

Another critical area of focus is cybersecurity. With cyber threats on the rise, countries like Morocco and Egypt have launched national cybersecurity strategies to protect their digital infrastructure. These strategies include establishing national cybersecurity agencies, conducting regular cyber drills, and collaborating with international partners to share threat intelligence.

As Africa continues to advance digitally, the role of international partnerships cannot be overlooked. The recent collaboration between the African Union and the European Union aims to enhance digital connectivity and bridge the digital divide. This partnership, announced in early 2024, focuses on building high-speed internet infrastructure, supporting digital skills training, and promoting e-governance.

While challenges remain, Africa's strides towards digital sovereignty and improved data protection are commendable. The continent is on a path to becoming a significant player in the global digital economy. Hassan Hachem advises, "African leaders must remain vigilant and proactive, ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation are equitably distributed and that our digital future is secure and sovereign."

Digital Sovereignty must be considered from a value chain perspective

This is what Smart Africa, which has 35 member states, is trying to do. Therefor in Dakar, on thursday, March 10th, 2022 – The Smart Africa Alliance (SA) has signed an MOU with NADPA/RAPDP (Network of African Data Protecion Authorities) to provide institutional support and enhance the enforcement capacities of the African National Authorities. "I am very pleased that both Smart Africa and NADPA/RAPDP have come together through this MOU signature. We need to work on our enforcement capacities for our data protection policies and intensify our panafrican collaboration. If not, our laws will remain empty shells. In line with Malabo Convention, but also the new Continental Data Policy Framework of the African Union Commission, this MOU will help facilitate and accelerate harmonization and legal collaboration between our countries members state." says Lacina Koné, who is leading a working group in which foreign players such as Intel, Facebook, Huawei and Microsoft are also participating, as well as the Omidyar Network fund set up by the founder of eBay, Pierre Omidyar. For the African side, it has involved eight regulatory institutions, representatives of the AU Commission and the African Network of Personal Data Protection Authorities (ANPPA).

"In my opinion, digital sovereignty must be considered from the point of view of the value chain," says the head of MNS Consulting. In addition to a "Digital Act" providing for the hosting of data on the continent, which would force global players to invest there, the States should, according to him, organise themselves in order to create the conditions for the participation of Africans in the capital of companies that develop digital services.

As for the internet giants like GAFAM, it is through taxation that states will be able to better control their field of action. The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), which has 38 member countries, is working with the OECD to define a taxation mechanism for digital platforms. The proposed solution is to take a percentage of the turnover or profit of these platforms and then redistribute it to member countries. On this point, "the AU must negotiate the share of the allocation to the continent," says Hassan Hachem from Equatorial Guinea. Kenya and Tanzania did not have the patience to wait. Kenya's digital service fee, which came into effect at the beginning of 2021, levies 1.5% of the gross value of digital services provided by foreign companies. It could raise $45 million in six months. Neighbouring Tanzania is considering taxing communications from messaging services such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. This mechanism would compensate for the loss of revenue on communications from operators' voice services.

"The Gafams do not want Africa to take a radical position like the OECD. But Smart Africa member countries agree that it is time for these platforms to contribute via a data tax. The question is not if we are going to do it, but when," concludes Lacina Koné. The challenge for the continent is now to ensure that these future revenues are intelligently reinvested to avoid repeating the failure of the universal service funds. Financed for years by the telecoms to extend networks in rural areas, they remain under-used due to a lack of good governance.