Accra|Civil society organisations, journalists, and social icons in Africa have been warned about cyber attacks.
Nanbaan Pwaspor, a Digital Associate with Resilience Technologies in Nigeria, emphasised the importance of understanding the digital space in order to avoid cyberattacks.
Navigating the tech concerns, Pwaspor stated that the best way to be safe is to be knowledgeable, defining it as the best practice to protect Africans from online attacks and malicious damage that is harmful to their mental health and reputation.
She was speaking at an event hosted by Paradigm Initiative and attended by a number of civil society organisations representing various stakeholders around the world.
The event featured discussions on digital rights and inclusion.
The three-day conference in Ghana, Accra, attracted 559 delegates from Uganda, Senegal, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom, among others.
As of today, only 39 of 54 African countries have adopted cyber security legislation. The adoption rate of cyber security policies and regulations across the continent is 72%.
The Computer Misuse Act (2011) is Uganda’s main cybercrime legislation. This strategy aims to create a safe and trustworthy digital economy for Uganda.
The most reported cyber cases have occurred during election seasons, and their motivations vary; some are government-sponsored, depending on the intention.
Normal cybercriminals target people for financial gain.
Afia Asantewaa, programme manager of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa and a member of the Meta oversight board, stated that the inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable and under-represented groups such as women, children, and people with disabilities should be a game changer because they are frequently targeted due to their inability to counter threats.
According to Asantewaa, as artificial intelligence technology improves in Africa, many cases of abuse may increase due to system manipulation.
When asked to what extent AI is under our control, Asantewaa stated that a gap has been identified: the failure to address potential risks by using AI.
She emphasised that Africa should have existing data protection laws and human rights defenders who are up to the task.
She added that the majority of the attacks occur on the global platform (Facebook) and that online attackers only require one thread of information to destroy you.
Asantewaa urged more African stakeholders to join forces in addressing the vice.
By Patricia Amne Aceng
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