Africa’s digital economy is undergoing rapid expansion, driven by the growth of fintech, mobile money, e-commerce, digital identity systems, and platform-based economies. Across the continent, data has become a central asset fueling innovation, enabling financial inclusion, and reshaping governance and commerce. 

However, this transformation is also redefining the relationship between money, data, and power. Increasingly, economic value is extracted from personal data, digital platforms are consolidating influence, and financial systems are becoming deeply intertwined with data ecosystems. 

While these developments present unprecedented opportunities for growth and inclusion, they also raise urgent concerns around data exploitation, economic inequality, surveillance, and accountability. 

The 8th Privacy Symposium Africa will convene leading stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to critically examine these dynamics and explore how the continent can build a data-driven economy that is both innovative and rights-respecting.