By Delicious Mathuthu
Harare, Zimbabwe – The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has welcomed the recently published study by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and emerging technologies in Africa, highlighting both the opportunities and urgent risks they pose to fundamental rights on the continent.
This follows the ACHPR’s adoption of Resolution 473 in February 2021, which mandated an in-depth examination of the human rights implications of AI and related technologies.
MISA, in its regional communiqué, commended the study for providing critical insights into the transformative potential and risks posed by the technologies in advancing or undermining rights and freedoms across the continent.
While acknowledging AI’s potential to drive economic growth, improve healthcare, and revolutionise education, MISA cautioned that Africa’s unique socio-economic challenges demand an intentional, rights-respecting approach.
“AI can drive economic empowerment through optimised supply chains, improved agriculture, and fintech-driven financial inclusion, contributing to poverty reduction and bridging the digital divide.
“It can also transform healthcare by improving diagnostics, treatment, and access, especially in remote areas,” MISA stated.
Despite benefits, the organisation warned of serious pitfalls if AI is deployed without robust safeguards.
“Africa is a continent that is disproportionately affected by issues such as poverty, climate change, and lack of access to basic services
“To realise the potential of AI in accelerating sustainable development, the continent needs strategic investments and supportive policies,” MISA said in the communique.
MISA further raised alarms over the impact of current AI applications such as facial recognition, surveillance systems, and content moderation, stating that these have a profound impact on the protection of fundamental rights and highlight the ethical and legal concerns that arise from AI’s influence on human rights.
The statement pointed to risks of job losses due to automation, deepening economic inequality, and the dangers of algorithmic bias, which can perpetuate discrimination, disproportionately harming marginalised communities.
MISA also stressed the threats posed by invasive surveillance technologies and biased algorithms to privacy and data protection, saying they could result in misuse and exploitation and possibly undermine human dignity, leading to dehumanising experiences and violations of fundamental rights such as the right to work, the right to non-discrimination, and the right to freedom of expression.
The organisation also noted the dangers of AI contributing to environmental degradation through energy-intensive systems and eroding cultural values through over-reliance in education, risking the displacement of intergenerational knowledge transfer and community-based learning.
In the communique, MISA called for the development of policies driven by Africans to regulate emerging technologies that uphold fundamental rights, that is, human dignity, equality, and non-discrimination, anchored and protected by relevant African instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“There is a need to ensure that technological advancements respect these principles through measures that require proactive fairness audits, transparency requirements, and redress mechanisms,” the statement said.
MISA also said while AI holds immense promise for Africa, its benefits must be distributed equitably and its risks mitigated through robust governance frameworks, human rights-based approaches, and inclusive policies tailored to Africa’s unique context.
