Digital Integration of Africa: Law, Technology, and Development

Information communications technology and the internet affect several development parameters of nations. Greater internet penetration results in more online commerce opportunities. Disadvantaged groups have better permission-less access to additional means of communication and wealth creation. Other results include positive social impacts in education, health, free speech, governance, and privacy. The research behind this book aimed at invoking the agency of law to aid the development of Africa through increased internet and technology usage. It was conducted as an interdisciplinary Law and Technology research, under the philosophy of Law and Development. The book proposes an AU Agreement and Protocol, as non-binding softlaw, that will potentially present the combined population of Africa on the internet in a single bloc-single identity presence. Rather than Africa’s 55 states presenting their populations in ‘silos’. ‘Can Africa achieve a common digital platform, though yet to meet political and economic union goals’? This was the research question: seeking to repeat EU’s successful creation of the .eu ccTLD, but within Africa’s unique contexts. Proposing a digitally united Africa.