Session Title: Exploring Global Perspectives on AI Regulation in Data Protection and Extracting Lessons for Africa Amidst Weak Legal Frameworks
Introduction/Session Overview: In the era of rapid technological advancement, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various facets of society has become increasingly prevalent. However, alongside the potential benefits, there are significant concerns regarding the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI, particularly in the realm of data protection. Africa, with its burgeoning digital landscape and often nascent legal frameworks, stands at a critical juncture in shaping policies and regulations surrounding AI and data protection.
The importance of this panel lies in its endeavor to provide insights from global perspectives on AI regulation and extract lessons that are pertinent to Africa’s context. By examining the experiences, challenges, and successes of other regions, this panel aims to facilitate informed discussions that can inform the development of robust AI regulatory frameworks in Africa.
Outcomes
Enhanced understanding of global perspectives on AI regulation and data protection.
Identification of common challenges and best practices applicable to African contexts.
Empowerment of African policymakers with actionable insights to strengthen AI regulation and safeguard data privacy.
Promotion of dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders towards developing effective and contextually relevant regulatory frameworks.
Session Format
- A) Opening Remarks (5 mins)
- B) Panel Discussion (45 mins)
- C) Audience Q&A (15 mins)
- D) Closing Remarks (5 mins)
Speakers
Rutendo Mugadza Mugwagwa
Advocate | Founder and CEO of Zimbabwe Innovation and Legal Technology Association (ZILTA)
Rutendo Mugadza Mugwagwa
Advocate | Founder and CEO of Zimbabwe Innovation and Legal Technology Association (ZILTA)
Panel: Exploring Global Perspectives on AI Regulation in Data Protection and Extracting Lessons for Africa Amidst Weak Legal Frameworks
Date: Tuesday 19th November, 2024
Time: 10:20 am -11:20 am CAT
Rutendo Mugadza Mugwagwa is a registered lawyer by profession, a holder of a Masters in Intellectual Property and a tech enthusiast who is passionate on raising awareness on the importance of Intellectual Property and building several legal tech solutions to accelerate access to Justice and access to legal services.
She is the founder and CEO of Zimbabwe Innovation and Legal Technology Association(ZILTA), association aimed at empowering law students and law professionals on the importance of Technology in the law field as well as educating on alternatives to the traditional law career and building and incubating legal technology solutions.
She was recently nominated as a finalist in the female Innovator of the year category at the Africa Tech Festival Awards 2022 and won the Socio-Tech Innovator of the year Award at the Ignite Youth Awards 2022 and listed as one of the Most Influential Female Lawyers in Africa by the Courtroom Mail 100 SHID as well as one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Technology and Telecommunications by the Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa.
Edith Utete
Attorney | Co-Founder-Digital Wellness Africa
Edith Utete
Attorney | Co-Founder-Digital Wellness Africa
Panel:Exploring Global Perspectives on AI Regulation in Data Protection and Extracting Lessons for Africa Amidst Weak Legal Frameworks
Date: Tuesday 19th November, 2024
Time: 10:20 am -11:20 am CAT
Edith is an attorney with fifteen years of experience in consulting and spearheading policy and legislative reforms in the areas of broadcasting, digitalization regulation of the radio frequency spectrum, and intellectual property protection for innovation.
As Co-founder of Digital Wellness Africa, Edith is also a digital media use and online safety expert, raising awareness and educating in the areas of digital skills and smartphone productivity, digital citizenship, cybersecurity, digital reputation management, and digital well-being.
Dr Melody Musoni
Digital Governance and Digital Economy Policy Officer at ECDPM
Dr Melody Musoni
Digital Governance and Digital Economy Policy Officer at ECDPM
Panel: Exploring Global Perspectives on AI Regulation in Data Protection and Extracting Lessons for Africa Amidst Weak Legal Frameworks
Date: Tuesday 19th November, 2024
Time: 10:20 am -11:20 am CAT
Melody Musoni is a Digital Governance and Digital Economy Policy Officer at ECDPM, a ‘think and do tank’ based in The Netherlands.
She is also the founder of AIfrica Conversations, an initiative uniting African voices to explore how artificial intelligence shapes social, economic, and political realms, with a focus on effective regulation.
Melody’s areas of interest are on Africa’s digital policy landscape, spanning projects on Artificial Intelligence in Africa, AI Sovereignty in South Africa, gender and criminality in cyberspace, digital ID in Africa, approaches to digital sovereignty, data localization in cybercrime investigations, to mention a few.
A seasoned speaker, Melody has contributed to global forums like the Internet Governance Forum, the Transform Africa Summit and engaged with institutions such as the European Union Digital for Development Hub and the OECD.
Before joining ECDPM, Melody worked as a data protection senior expert and advisor at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat. Melody has a decade long experience in both legal practice and academia where she specialised in privacy law, cybersecurity, and information technology law in South Africa.
She holds a PhD degree in cybercrime law and cloud computing law, a master of laws degree in cyberlaw and a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Witwatersrand.
Cornelia Kutterer
Senior Research Fellow | Multidisciplinary Institute in AI, University of Grenoble
Cornelia Kutterer
Senior Research Fellow | Multidisciplinary Institute in AI, University of Grenoble
Panel: Exploring Global Perspectives on AI Regulation in Data Protection and Extracting Lessons for Africa Amidst Weak Legal Frameworks
Date: Tuesday 19th November, 2024
Time: 10:20 am -11:20 am CAT
Cornelia is Managing Director of Considerati in Belgium, a boutique consultancy specializing in legal and data protection services, AI governance services, and public affairs. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Multidisciplinary Institute in AI, University of Grenoble, where she focuses on AI governance and regulation.
Her expertise centers on the intersection of technology law, AI advancements, and AI safety. She is a board member of the IAPP AI Governance Centre and the new Centre of Digital Constitutionalism and Policy, a member of the OECD's AI expert network, senior advisor of Safer.AI, a non-profit AI safety research group and she is IAPP GPAI certified.
Previously, she led Microsoft's Responsible Tech and Competition team in Europe, accumulating vast experience in tech policy areas for over 15 years. In preceding roles, she led the legal department of the European Consumer Organization BEUC and gained early professional experience in a US top 10 law firm, a German wage equity fund, and the European Parliament. Cornelia is a qualified German lawyer and holds degrees from the University of Hamburg and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow (LL.M. Tech Law).