Page 91
This chapter questions Africa's digital sovereignty in the age of big data and explores how networks enable data colonialism. It examines the geopolitical implications of data extraction for African nations.
The chapter delves into how global networks facilitate the extraction of African data and how big data analytics transform this data into valuable intelligence and capital. Prof. Benyera examines the ownership and control of network infrastructure, highlighting how foreign companies and governments maintain control over Africa's digital ecosystem.
By questioning "whither Africa's sovereignty," the chapter raises critical concerns about the political implications of data colonialism. It argues that without control over their data and digital infrastructure, African nations face new forms of dependency and vulnerability that undermine their sovereignty and self-determination in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.