The Impact of Data Protection Rules on the Digital Economy Aspect of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)

THE IMPACT OF DATA PROTECTION RULES ON THE DIGITAL ECONOMY ASPECT OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (AfCFTA)

The major efforts made by Africa in creating a regional data protection regime are the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data and Article 15 of the AFCFTA.

The whole world is becoming more integrated with the advent of digital economy in international trade. Without a robust data privacy regime, Africa stands to lose billions in revenue and jobs as external entities that ought to set up businesses in Africa would rather just set up shop in a region with more developed data protection laws.