The 7th Privacy Symposium Africa
26th – 28th November 2025
Marriot Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria
Redefining Privacy, Power, and Trust in Africa’s Digital Future
The Focus This Year
Africa is experiencing rapid digital transformation, with the expansion of internet access, digital ID programs, artificial intelligence, fintech, e-governance, and other innovations reshaping economies and societies. While these digital advancements promise greater efficiency, inclusion, and economic growth, they also raise profound questions about privacy, power, and trust in the digital age.
The 7th Privacy Symposium Africa (PSA 2025) will provide a premier platform to critically examine these pressing issues. Gathering leading data protection experts, regulators, policymakers, civil society actors, legal professionals, and industry leaders, PSA 2025 will foster discussions, collaborations, and policy solutions aimed at ensuring that Africa’s digital transformation is both rights-respecting and inclusive.
Theme Rationale
The theme of “Redefining Privacy, Power, and Trust in Africa’s Digital Future” reflects the urgent need to re-evaluate the governance of digital ecosystems on the continent. Key issues to be explored include:
- Privacy:How do African governments and businesses balance innovation with data protection? What measures are needed to prevent data exploitation and ensure citizens’ rights are upheld?
- Power:Who controls digital infrastructure, data flows, and AI development in Africa? How can power asymmetries be addressed to ensure fair and just digital governance?
- Trust:With increasing data breaches, digital surveillance, and misinformation, how can trust be rebuilt in public and private digital systems? What role do legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms play?
This theme aims to inspire thought leadership, policy interventions, and actionable strategies to shape Africa’s digital future in a manner that prioritizes human rights, data protection, and democratic governance.
Objectives
PSA 2025 seeks to:
- Strengthen Data Protection Frameworks– Foster discussions on the state of data privacy laws in Africa and propose recommendations for stronger enforcement and accountability.
- Address Emerging Digital Threats– Examine evolving challenges such as state surveillance, biometric data collection, misinformation, and AI-driven discrimination.
- Promote Cross-Sectoral Collaboration– Facilitate dialogue between governments, regulators, civil society, academia, and the private sector to drive rights-based digital policies.
- Empower Women and Marginalized Groups– Ensure that gender-inclusive and equity-focused perspectives are integrated into Africa’s digital governance discussions.
- Advance Public Awareness & Capacity Building– Provide masterclasses and practical workshops to enhance technical knowledge and policy advocacy skills among stakeholders.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT PSA 2025
Master Classes
PSA 2025 will feature hands-on masterclasses, including:
- Data Breach Management Masterclass– Strategies for response, mitigation, and regulatory compliance.
- Cybersecurity for Digital Privacy Advocates– Best practices for digital security in a high-risk environment.
- Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) for Organizations– Conducting PIAs for compliance and risk mitigation.
Women In Privacy One on One
This dedicated session explores gendered perspectives on data protection through an intimate conversation with a distinguished woman who has made significant contributions to privacy advocacy. Attendees will gain valuable insights into her journey, experiences, and impact, offering a deeper understanding of leadership and advocacy in the field of privacy.
Let's Talk
Let’s Talk Sessions are designed to encourage informal and interactive discussions on various privacy-related topics. With participants from all over Africa, this is an opportunity to connect, seek out inspiration, and find collaboration opportunities.
This year’s edition will be a dynamic, interactive discussion bridging policy, technology, and societal dynamics.
Call for Papers
Africa’s digital landscape is evolving rapidly, with advancements in AI, digital identity systems, biometric data collection, fintech, and e-governance reshaping societies and economies. However, this transformation presents complex challenges related to privacy, power dynamics, and trust in digital systems.
PSA 2025 seeks to explore how Africa can navigate these challenges while fostering inclusive, rights-respecting, and resilient digital governance.
2025 Privacy Scorecard Report Launch
The 5th Privacy Scorecard Report will be unveiled, presenting a comparative assessment of privacy laws and data protection enforcement across Africa.
The 2025 Privacy Scorecard Report evaluates privacy practices of organizations and companies, focusing on Uganda, Kenya, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria & Botswana. This report aims to provide objective measurements for analyzing policies and practices, offering insights valuable to policymakers, businesses, and individuals.
Panel Discussions
PSA 2025 will host expert-led panels on a diverse range of topics, including but not limited to: the state of surveillance in Africa, Biometric Data, and Digital ID, Edtech and Children’s Privacy, Media, Misinformation and Privacy, Data Breach Preparedness.
Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja
Venue: Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja
The Privacy Symposium Africa 2025 Edition will be held at Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja.
Located at 122 Joel Ogunnaike Street in the upscale Ikeja GRA district of Lagos, Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja is a contemporary 5-star property that blends modern décor with subtle Nigerian design elements to serve both business and leisure guests.
