AI, Digital Economy: Experts Call for Stronger Personal Data Protection



Information and communication technology experts have called on Tanzania to strengthen public trust in digital services, including cybersecurity, personal data protection and digital literacy, to enable the country to benefit more from artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy.

The call was made during the Tanzania Digital Trust Initiative Forum, which brought together government officials, regulators, technology experts, industry leaders and other stakeholders to discuss ways of creating a safe and trusted environment for the use of technology in Tanzania.

Speaking at the forum, Director General of the Tanzania Commission for Information and Communication Technology (Tanzania ICT Commission), Dr. Nkundwe Mwasaga, said Tanzania has made significant progress since the adoption of the 2003 National ICT Policy, adding that the infrastructure developed should now be translated into economic and social benefits for citizens.

He said the 2003 National ICT Policy focused on establishing institutions, national ICT infrastructure and ICT skills, while the 2016 policy placed greater emphasis on digital systems and platforms.

“Tanzania has entered the digital economy, and the next step is to build a trust infrastructure that will enable citizens to use digital services safely and with confidence,” Dr. Mwasaga said.

He said trust is particularly important in e-commerce and digital financial services, where citizens need assurance that their payments are secure, their personal information is protected and the products they purchase online will be delivered.

“E-commerce depends on trust. Without trust, the digital economy cannot thrive,” Dr. Mwasaga said.

On the use of artificial intelligence, Dr. Mwasaga said Tanzania should not adopt the technology simply by following global trends, but should focus on how AI can be used to address challenges and align with the country’s development priorities.

He identified industries, agriculture and economic development as some of the areas where the appropriate use of AI could make a significant contribution.

According to Dr. Mwasaga, the benefits of AI will depend on investment in education and skills development. He cautioned that inadequate preparation could worsen youth unemployment as some jobs may be taken over by AI-powered systems.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Tanzania Privacy Professionals Association (TPPA), Tumwesigye Evans, said the organisation has a responsibility to protect users’ personal data as the use of AI and the digital economy continues to expand.

He said TPPA has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with India-based Sandbox Security and TAFINA, with the aim of strengthening trust in digital services in Tanzania.

“As these changes continue, it is important to strengthen public trust in digital services and technologies,” Evans said.

He said the partnerships aim to combine legal protection with technical and security measures to protect users of digital services.

For her part, Sandbox’s Regional Head of Sales and Marketing, Amrita Choudhury, said building trust in the use of technology cannot be achieved by one institution or sector alone, but requires collaboration among various stakeholders.

The stakeholders said strengthening public trust in the digital environment is essential as Tanzania continues to expand the use of online services, digital businesses and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

For Tanzania, experts believe that creating a trusted digital environment will help increase the use of online services, protect consumers from digital risks and enable technology to make a greater contribution to economic and social development.

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