About PSA 2022
The 4th Privacy Symposium Africa was co-organized by Unwanted Witness, and Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT), Strathmore University and was held in Nairobi from 2nd – 4th Nov 2022. It was a mixture of Virtual and Physical attendence.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau
The PSA 2023 Edition was graced by the presence of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau.
He has a doctorate degree in Geography and Planning from the University of Lagos and an Advanced Diploma in Computer Studies. He is a Certified Public Private Partnership Specialist (IP3 Specialist) and a PECB Certified Data Protection Officer.
East and Central Regional Engagement
Panel Topic: What You Need to Know About Your Digital Trail: Privacy in the Era of Datafication.
This panel discussed data protection enforcement challenges faced by the East and Central African countries and key actionable considerations.
Also the ways in which data generated by voters is utilized; regulations enacted to protect electoral data, and enforcement strategies and gaps.
Moderated by: Mildred Tuhaise
Date held: Friday 5th August, 2022
Call For Papers
This call was made for the academic consortia, research projects, think tanks and other research organizations; aimed at encouraging, enabling and producing practical and applicable research that addresses major data protection and privacy issues.
Olumide Babalolaa, member of the Nigerian Bar Association and International Network of Privacy Law Practitioners and Privacy Law Scholar, emerged the winner with a paper title; TRANSBORDER DATA FLOWS (TDF) IN AFRICA: THE SNAKES AND LADDERS.
He made his online presentation on Wednesday 2nd November, 2022 at the Privacy Symposium Africa.
Master Classes
Master Class On Gender And Data
This Master Class was devoted to Gender and Data. KICTANET and Unwanted Witness, Uganda shared their techniques to CSOs and media practitioners, on tips and tricks, and on how organizations and the public can take advantage of the new opportunities presented by publicly existing data while safeguarding women’s online safety.
Date held: Wednesday 2nd November, 2022
Topic: Utilizing data while safeguarding women safety online.
Target Audience:
– Conference attendees (privacy experts)
– Representatives from the civil society
– Women in media
Drawing on experiences from the different southern African countries, this panel examined the effectiveness and efficiency of Data Protection laws in upholding the right to privacy in the Southern part of Africa thus far.
Moderated by: Mildred Tuhaise
Date held: Friday 24th June, 2022
Master Class On Legal And Practical Considerations For Commercial Use Of Data
Date held: Friday 4th November, 2022
Proposed Topic: : Legal and practical considerations for commercial use of data
Target Audience:
- Senior management, In-house counsel and Privacy and Compliance professionals
- Business Analysts, Risk and Audit Managers, Technical Managers, Business Change professionals and Project Management professionals; and Personnel who work in IT Systems Management and Information Security
- Civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, academics, journalists, and individuals.
Facilitator: Daniel Mwathe, Partner- Bowmans
Master Class On Public – Private Surveillance Partnerships
This Master Class was devoted to Gender and Data. KICTANET and Unwanted Witness, Uganda shared their techniques to CSOs and media practitioners, on tips and tricks, and on how organizations and the public can take advantage of the new opportunities presented by publicly existing data while safeguarding women’s online safety.
Date held: Thursday 3rd November, 2022
Proposed Topic: As states around the world seek to expand their surveillance capabilities and harness the power of data to deliver public services, they are often tempted to use the services of private technology companies – through public-private partnerships (‘PPPs’). These collaborations are taking on new forms, diverging from traditional public procurement relationships and becoming much more co-dependent
Facilitator: Lucie Audibert, Lawyer & Legal Officer at Privacy International
Facilitator: Nuno Guerreiro de Sousa, Technologist at Privacy International
Let's Talk Sessions
Let’s Talk: In this inaugural session of lets talk, we sought to understand the challenges African Data Protection Regulators Face as the struggle towards implementation, Independence, and Enforcement. The conversation centered around the Challenges African DPRs face and the way forward.
Date held: Thursday 3rd November, 2022
Speacial Guest: Adv. Pansy Tlakula, the Chairperson Office of the Information Regulator, South Africa. Adv. Pansy Tlakula, the Chairperson Office of the Information Regulator, South Africa.
Moderator:: Mugambi Laibuta (PhD Candidate (Wits), LLM (LSE), LLB (Moi), Dip. Law (KSL), CIPM(IAPP) an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
PRIVACY SCORECARD REPORT LAUNCH
The second edition of the Privacy Scorecard Report, a Data Protection compliance-monitoring tool was launched. Unlike the 2021 edition, the 2nd edition of the Privacy Scorecard report featured two countries Uganda and Kenya, and was co-authored by Unwanted Witness and Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT), Strathmore University
The report was launched by Ms. Immaculate Kassait, the commissioner Office of the Data Protection Commissioner-Kenya.
Data collectors/processors are required to be transparent about access to and use of personal data, and to respect our right to privacy and dignity at all times as stipulated in the data protection law. And some companies are increasingly meeting those expectations, but there are still many companies that lag behind, fail to enact best practices around transparency, or don’t prioritize user privacy and dignity.
Panel Discussions
The Use Of Data In Digital ID And Humanitarian Works: Key Considerations.
This panel sought to generate in-country experiences from topic experts, including highlighting key concerns associated with the application of digital identity solutions as proof of identification of already vulnerable groups. The experts further proposed possible advocacy strategies that are meant to protect people from personal data exploitation.
Moderator: Haretha Bulle (Program Manager at Haki na sheria)
Speakers:
a) Brenda Gabantu Bii (Communications Authority of Kenya)
b) Dr. Keren Weitzberg (International Researcher on Digital ID)
c) Victoria Oloni (Tech Lawyer from Nigeria)
d) Cynthia Chepkemoi (Legal and Data Protection Officer, South-End Tech Limited, Nairobi-Kenya
e) Thobekile Matimbe (Paradigm Initiative)
f) Naima Ibrahim (Human Rights Lawyer, Kenya)
Panel 2
Panel Title: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MACHINE LEARNING: BALANCING BENEFITS AND RESPECT OF THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN A DATA-DRIVEN AFRICAN ECONOMY.
This panel contextualized the usage of AI systems/machine learning and its implications for the right to privacy with particular reference to Africa.
Moderator: Wandiri Karimi the Vice Chairperson of the Creative Economy Task force-Kenya.
Speakers:
a) Mosa Thekiso (Executive Head of International Legal & Regulatory, Vodacom Group)
b) Amanda Manyame (Digital Law and Rights Advisor, Equality Now)
c) Santana Simiyu ( Programme Officer, International Commission of Jurists- Kenyan)
d) Chenai Chair- Confirmed | Virtual (Senior Program Officer – Africa Mradi Innovation – at Mozilla Foundation)
Panel 3
HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS RELATED TO PUBLIC-PRIVATE SURVEILLANCE PARTNERSHIPS AND NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS
This panel discussed the risks and potential human rights abuses that emerge from Public – Private Surveillance Partnerships.
Moderator: Wandiri Karimi the Vice Chairperson of the Creative Economy Task force-Kenya.
Speakers:
a) Catherine Muya (Article 19, Kenya)
b) Dorothy Mukasa (Unwanted Witness, Uganda)
c) Dr. Patricia Boshe (Research Centre for Law and Digitalisation (FREDI) -University of Passau)
Harmonization Of Africa Data Governance Regime: What Needs To Be Done?
This was a focused conversation on whether cross-border harmonization can be achieved in Africa and if so, how?
Moderator: Tess Wandia, Senior Researcher at Africa Check.
How To Effectively Achieve Compliance As Small Businesses In Kenya?
During this Panel session, discussions on ways and tools to enhance compliance by SMEs with the DPA in Africa were held. This panel elaborated what is done so far to support SMEs’ compliance and what else is needed so that SMEs can become compliant most efficiently.
Moderator: Megan Kathure an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
