Introduction

The right to privacy and the concomitant requirement to protect personal information has garnered significant attention in the information age. The spread of internet access and the digitisation of many parts of public and private life have led to sharp increases in online information-sharing and data collection, yet legislative developments have failed to keep pace and adequately protect personal information. However, African states and regional and continental bodies have begun to develop various data protection instruments and regulations in an attempt to remedy and vindicate the privacy rights of their citizens.

This module focuses on data protection in Africa and the related concepts of the ‘right to be forgotten’ and encryption, and emerging principles and safeguards relating to surveillance.