Reflections upon periclitations in privacy: perspectives from Rwanda’s digital transformation

Abstract

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution has brought considerable socio-economic benefits to humanity over the last 50 years. However, one of its side effects has been an increased threat to personal privacy owing to the widespread use of digital services that make utility of personal information, the extreme ease with which that information is captured, transmitted, analyzed and stored coupled with the incentives for a range of actors to misuse the information at their disposal or reach. This article presents a ministerial view that one should not have to trade-off between privacy and security, or be told to give-up privacy for safety. In part, this declaration is foundationally germane to Rwanda's digital transformation, and our society's approach to erecting Privacy protections, harnessing the deep value that Privacy had once held in Rwanda's pre-colonial tradition, and has again, in her most recent history. In view of a rapid transformation that is presently turning the country into a digital hub for the Continent of Africa, Rwanda is charting a path forward to achieve a double purpose; on one hand the prospect of leveraging information technology for the benefits of her citizens, and on the other hand, securing and protecting the privacy of her citizens, as a key component of Rwanda's societal identity. This article further presents that given the leadership that Rwanda has demonstrated in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Development in Africa, the nation's course of action in relation to data and personal privacy protection will have a positive influence on the rest of the African continent that is now bracing to form a single digital market through the Continent-wide Smart Africa initiative.

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