Data Privacy in Africa's Ed-Tech Platforms: Children's Right to Privacy

In the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of educational technology (Ed-tech) platforms on the African continent, with an estimated $224 billion being spent on education in Africa today. This is projected to increase to $740 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 14%, while spending on Ed-tech will increase from 1% today to 6–10% by 2030, reaching $57 billion. Ed-tech platforms are used to create a more engaging, inclusive, and individualized learning experience. A number of these platforms utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI-enabled learning tools and approaches have revolutionized the global education sector. They have been recognized for their contributions to enhancing the quality of learning and teaching. AI aids teachers and students in their lessons. Additionally, AI has been lauded for its potential to boost students’ knowledge and learning habits, as well as create a more personalized approach to learning. There are a number of AI-powered education technology companies that have been adopted in various regions of Africa. These include Knowledge AI in Mauritius, Gradely in Nigeria, and Zedny in Egypt, among others. A number of these Ed-tech platforms are highlighted on the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) AI application dashboard, which displays Ed-tech platforms in use in Africa that are developed by AI developers in Africa. These platforms use AI to improve education and learning for children in the respective countries, and even beyond.