African countries have taken differing approaches to cybersecurity and data protection regulations, using each category of regulation for a different political purpose. I have argued elsewhere that African states have used cybersecurity regulation to resist outside – and primarily European – influence. And the most materially vulnerable African states have been the strongest supporters of an “African solution to African problems” approach towards cybersecurity regulation. But with data protection regulations, something different is happening. African states are not, overall, pursuing African solutions to African problems with respect to data protection. Rather, states with stronger trade ties with Europe—one indicator that a state is materially stronger—are supporting adoption of European approaches. Technology laws, even in nondominant countries, do political work -- just not always the same political work.
