In recent years, Africa has become a crucial hub for artificial intelligence development, but not in the way many might expect. Rather than benefiting from technological advancement, many Africans find themselves caught in what they call “digital colonialism” – a modern form of exploitation that mirrors historical patterns of colonization.
Mophat Okinyi, former content moderator for Facebook, and current CEO of Techworker Community Africa (TCA), can help us understand this phenomenon and its implications for digital development in Africa.
What is African Digital Colonialism?
The concept of “African digital colonialism” represents a new form of resource extraction, where major technology companies from Silicon Valley exploit Africa’s labor, data, and resources without providing equitable returns. This manifests in four key ways:
1. Economic Employment Exploitation
Workers in the artificial intelligence development sector receive wages that grossly undervalue their essential contributions to developing and training AI systems. The traditional protections of stable employment are rapidly eroding, replaced by precarious freelance arrangements that offer little security or benefits. Meanwhile, local economies watch as the wealth generated from their resources and data flows outward, leaving communities with minimal economic benefits from this digital gold rush.
2. Mental Health Exploitation
Content moderators bear an especially heavy burden, experiencing severe psychological trauma from constant exposure to disturbing content. These workers operate under intense pressure, facing unrealistic quotas monitored by algorithmic surveillance systems that prioritize speed over wellbeing. Despite the serious mental health impacts of this work, adequate psychological support is rarely provided, leaving workers to cope with trauma largely on their own.
3. Environmental Degradation
The resource-intensive nature of AI development leaves a heavy environmental footprint on African communities. The extraction of rare earth minerals needed for AI hardware causes significant local environmental destruction, while the massive energy demands of data centers predominantly rely on non-renewable energy sources, further exacerbating climate issues in regions already vulnerable to climate change.
4. Social and Cultural Exploitation
Tech companies actively lobby local officials for favorable treatment, perpetuating traditional power dynamics that prioritize corporate interests over community needs. These companies often justify their practices by portraying African communities as poor and marginalized, using the promise of “job creation” to mask exploitative practices. Perhaps most perniciously, local cultural contexts and needs are frequently overlooked in AI development, leading to technologies that fail to serve or represent the communities whose resources and labor helped create them.
Solutions to African Digital Colonialism
For humanitarian aid workers and others concerned about African digital colonialism, there are several ways to support positive change. These solutions fall into two main categories: immediate actions that can be taken today, and longer-term systemic changes that require sustained effort and collaboration.
Immediate Remediation Actions
Education and awareness form the foundation of meaningful change. Humanitarian aid workers can make an immediate impact by:
- Developing and delivering educational programs that help local communities understand their rights in the digital economy, including workshops on data privacy, labor rights, and the economic value of digital work
- Creating and distributing informational materials that clearly explain the true value of data and digital labor, helping workers understand their worth in the global AI development chain
- Supporting comprehensive digital literacy initiatives that go beyond basic computer skills to include critical understanding of digital rights, online privacy, and the role of data in modern economies
Supporting African digital workers is another crucial area for immediate intervention. We can:
- Build strong connections with organizations like Techworker Community Africa (TCA) and local tech worker unions, helping to amplify their voices and extend their reach into vulnerable communities
- Launch campaigns advocating for comprehensive mental health support for content moderators, including access to trauma counseling and regular mental health checkups
- Create systems to document and report cases of exploitation, building an evidence base that can support broader advocacy efforts and legal actions
Systemic Changes to Reduce Exploitation
Long-term transformation requires sustained effort across multiple fronts. Policy advocacy represents a critical pathway to lasting change:
- Working with local governments and international bodies to develop protective regulatory frameworks that safeguard workers’ rights and ensure fair treatment in the digital economy
- Campaigning for standardized fair compensation frameworks that reflect the true value of digital labor and data contributions from African communities
- Supporting initiatives that establish and protect data sovereignty rights, ensuring African communities maintain control over their digital resources
Community building creates the foundation for sustained resistance and positive change:
- Creating and supporting networks that connect tech workers across regions and specialties, building a strong collective voice for advocacy and mutual support
- Developing digital platforms and physical spaces where workers can share resources, organize collective actions, and build solidarity across geographic boundaries
- Identifying and supporting local tech initiatives that prioritize community benefits over corporate profits, creating models for ethical technology development
International collaboration amplifies these efforts and creates broader impact:
- Establishing partnerships with global organizations fighting digital exploitation, creating a united front against exploitative practices
- Documenting and sharing success stories and best practices across regions, helping communities learn from each other’s experiences and victories
- Coordinating international pressure campaigns that target tech companies’ practices, using consumer awareness and investor pressure to drive corporate policy changes
We Must Reduce African Digital Colonialism Together
The fight against African digital colonialism requires a coordinated effort from humanitarian workers, local communities, and international organizations. By understanding this new form of exploitation and taking concrete steps to combat it, we can work toward a more equitable digital future for Africa.
We must ensure that technological advancement genuinely serves local communities rather than merely extracting value from them.
A synopsis of AI, digital colonialism & social mobilization in Africa, a conversation with Mophat Okinyi
