Pascal SAGNA

This dissertation examines the impact of the rise of new information and communication technologies (NICTs) in Africa, focusing on their implications for population surveillance and privacy protection. In a context marked by rapid digital transformation, the study explores the tensions between the benefits offered by NICTs – such as improved digital sociability and public services – and the challenges posed by the misuse of personal data.

Structured in two main parts, the analysis highlights, on the one hand, the meteoric rise of NICTs and their socio-political repercussions, and, on the other, the role of states and institutions in digital surveillance and regulation. Drawing on a variety of case studies, the author explores the digital control and repression mechanisms deployed in Africa, while analyzing existing legal frameworks and their effectiveness in protecting citizens’ fundamental rights.

The aim of this dissertation is to suggest ways of balancing the opportunities offered by NICTs with the imperatives of protecting digital rights, within an ethical and inclusive framework adapted to African realities.