Cameroon on Saturday concluded a weeklong training for indigenous people in artificial intelligence (AI) as part of activities to mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Minister of Social Affairs Pauline Irene Nguene said the Central African nation is working to ensure that indigenous people benefit from the opportunities provided by the advent of AI.

“Indigenous people should not be left out in the changing world. It is their right to learn and apply AI. That is why this training contributes to the fight against social exclusion,” Nguene said in Yaoundé, the country’s capital, while awarding certificates at the end of the training.

Efforts are underway to establish a tiered AI education system to guide indigenous people in rural areas from foundational cognitive awareness to practical technological innovation, according to Cameroonian officials.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is commemorated annually on Aug. 9, with this year’s theme being “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures.”

By Miriam Metchane Ewang

A two-day forum opened in Cameroon on Monday to discuss the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) for the Central African country.

According to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, which organized the event, the forum aims to define a national strategy for AI by establishing a solid ethical and regulatory framework that respects the country’s cultural and social values.

“Faced with the challenges of the 21st century, artificial intelligence represents a strategic lever to accelerate Cameroon’s emergence. This event embodies our desire to position AI as a lever for governance, growth, and digital sovereignty, in a spirit of inclusive transformation serving national emergence,” said Minette Libom Li Likeng, minister of posts and telecommunications, while opening the forum in the national capital of Yaounde.

The forum is being held under the theme: “Promoting an Inclusive and Sustainable Digital Economy through the Mobilization of Artificial Intelligence for an Emerging Cameroon.”

Technology experts in the country have urged for greater innovation, improved digital connectivity, and equitable access to AI.

Source: Xinhuanet

The President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, last week directed his government to source for money from a Chinese bank for the partial financing of a national video surveillance project with live facial recognition.

The move comes weeks after another Chinese partner, China Construction Bank Corporation (CCBC), decided to discontinue negotiations to offer the government a loan of FCFA 33 billion (approximately US$52 million).

In a decree signed on December 2, the president asked the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey, to sign a loan agreement with the Shenzhen branch of China Citic Bank Corporation Ltd worth $52 million for the partial financing of the project’s second phase.

At the close of September, Cameroon’s debt management company (CAA) disclosed in a public debt report that CCBC had decided to withdraw from the deal. Although the CAA’s report didn’t mention CCBC by name or the reason for the withdrawal, it is clear that an authorization had been given in 2021 to contract a loan with the bank for the project, as reported by Business in Cameroon.

In March this year, the government also got presidential authorization to secure another loan from the Hong Kong branch of Banco Santander for the same project.

The funding from these two banks, when obtained, will enable the government to start the second phase of the facial recognition project which will see the construction of command and data centers in each of the ten regional capital of the country, installation of base stations, and the inter-connection of police services for more efficient crime detection.

Phase I of the project has already been completed with hundreds of CCTV camera planted in the two largest cities of Yaounde and Douala, as well as in other regional cities. This phase has already seen the construction of two major command centers, the second of which was inaugurated last year in Douala.

Apart from capturing crime scenes, the system is meant to record traffic accidents, disruption of road traffic such as through violation of traffic lights, or any other form of urban disorder that warrants prompt police intervention.

It is being implemented by the General Delegation for National Security (DGSN) in partnership with Cameroon’s state-owned telecommunications company (CAMTEL) and Chinese tech giant Huawei. Huawei supports similar video surveillance projects in other African countries in what appears to be a growing trend across the continent.

The video surveillance projects, despite the advantages touted by governments, have faced criticism from digital rights advocates over concerns related to privacy and human rights.

Source: Biometricupdate

Internet and digital rights advocacy organization, Paradigm Initiative, as well as other rights advocates in Cameroon have hailed the country for introducing a dedicated personal data protection draft legislation, but believe there are gaps and inadequacies that must be addressed before the text is operationalized.

Government tabled the bill at the National Assembly on November 13. On November 19, Posts and Telecommunications Minister, Minette Libom Li Likeng, defended the draft bill before members of the Committee on Constitutional Laws, explaining the content of the text and the crucial role it will play in driving the country’s digital economy growth.

Beyond the potential gains of the law which is expected to be examined during a plenary debate session in the National Assembly this week, Paradigm Initiative points out a few aspects which have to be considered.

The organization said in a news release that while the bill represents “a critical step forward in protecting privacy in an era dominated by data-driven technologies,” it also raises concerns about certain provisions, questioning potential effectiveness of the bill whenever it is enacted.

One area of concern for Paradigm is the independence of the Personal Data Protection Authority, as outlined in Section 53.

It says the appointment of the Authority by the Head of State raises questions about its ability to operate without political influence, which is crucial for impartial enforcement of the legislation.

In the same vein, it also mentions the provision under Section 9(2) of the bill which says consent of a data subject may not be required for tasks deemed in the ‘public interest,’ including matters of health.

“Without judicial oversight or clearer definitions, PIN warns that this clause risks being misinterpreted or misused. Paradigm Initiative believes there is a unique opportunity to address these gaps during parliamentary deliberations, ensuring that the law is not only progressive in theory but also practical and effective in protecting citizens,” the organizations says.

“Cameroon’s Personal Data Protection Bill is a significant achievement and demonstrates a growing recognition of the need for strong data protection frameworks across Africa,” said Khadijah El-Usman, senior programmes officer, Anglophone Africa, at Paradigm Initiative.

“We urge legislators to address the ambiguities in the bill and ensure its implementation is backed by adequate capacity to monitor compliance and protect citizens from data exploitation which includes but is not limited to financial independence,” she added.

Paradigm mentions that because tech companies continue to mine data on a global scale, Cameroon’s progress in the area of data protection “signals a promising step toward greater accountability in the digital age.”

“Its provisions lay the groundwork for enhanced personal data protection and align Cameroon with global efforts to address the risks of data misuse. With proper implementation and oversight, the country could join others in holding violators accountable and protecting the digital rights of its citizens.”

Rights campaigner also picks holes in bill

In another reaction to the bill, Cameroonian digital rights advocate and one of those who campaigned for the introduction of a personal data protection legislation in Cameroon, Colbert Gwain, called the move a “proactive” step against “unlawful data exploitation,” but nonetheless picked some holes in the draft legislation.

He told Biometric Update in a message that “it’s always a nice day to see that what you have been advocating for years comes to pass,” but quickly noted that the bill “comes with its own shortcomings, including the fact that the legislator intentionally gives broad definitions to some terms which may be subject to varied interpretations.”

“The bill also misses out on a major aspect of personal data which is metadata. It also fails to provide guarantees for whistleblowers that may disclose information or data for public interest. Another shortcoming, which must quickly be addressed before the bill finally goes through Parliament, is the neutrality of the Data Protection Authority, given that the bill allows for the President of the Republic to create the body and appoint its members,” Gwain says.

He further notes: “We haven’t seen enough of judicial and parliamentary oversight weaved into the bill. Plus, the chilling fact that most of the articles of the bill need separate instruments to activate their application. Also, for those living in the two English Speaking regions of Cameroon, the bill doesn’t address the thorny issue of defense and security officers unlawfully and arbitrarily infringing on their privacy under the pretext of national security and public order. This is usually exemplified by frequent phone searches that usually lead to the incrimination of citizens.”

While Gwain believes the bill is a good step forward, he however holds that it will make more sense if the government considers the introduction of a comprehensive digital rights bill, to guarantee certain freedoms online.

“Cameroonians’ right to internet access and affordability are not yet guaranteed. Without a comprehensive digital rights bill for Cameroon that prohibits internet shutdowns in the whole or parts of Cameroon, as obtained in 2017, where the internet was shut down in the two English-Speaking regions of Cameroon under the pretext of national security and public order, the personal data protection draft piece of legislation will have no value,” Gwain argues.

“The internet must not only become a public good but we must have a bill that expressly stops Cameroonians being held Incommunicado from becoming a norm. I also expected our legislator to be foresighted enough to begin to align our digital legislation to the decentralization process that Cameroon is currently involved in. What about proposing a forward-looking legislation that gives powers to municipal authorities to create bandwidth centers and only purchase internet from ISPs, rather than allowing individual internet users to purchase expensive internet?” he wonders.

“We need a legislation that could decentralize internet services the way roads, water, and education services are being decentralized to regional and local authorities.”

Culled from BiometricsUpdate

An Expression of Interest (EOI) announcement has been published by the World Bank seeking a contractor for a project that aims to strengthen the Cameroon government’s cybersecurity architecture.

Opened on July 29, interested candidates with expertise in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have up to August 12 at midnight, local time, to submit their EOI forms.

According to the notice, the firm to be eventually selected will carry out analyses and draft reports to help increase the capacity of the government and local stakeholders in assessing and managing cybersecurity risks for the country’s digital infrastructure.

In addition, these analyses and reports are also expected to help “improve the enabling environment for secure, trusted electronic transactions through improved regulatory framework for e-signature and implementation of a sustainable and scalable PKI architecture.”

The World Bank insists that those interested in participating in the bidding process must show proof of their competence through documented evidence. This must include information confirming that they are qualified, information about the firm’s technical and managerial capabilities, its core business operations and duration in business, as well as information on the qualification of its staff.

At the close of the EOI window in under two weeks, a shortlist of the best candidates will then be published for their bid files to be submitted.

The move by the Cameroon government to fortify its cybersecurity foundations is part of the country’s broader digital transformation plans. It specifically aligns with the Project to Accelerate Digital Transformation in Cameroon (PATNuC) which has the modernization of digital infrastructure and enhancement of digital trust as one of its core components. The initiative has the financial and technical accompaniment of a number of international development partners and donors.

Cameroon has a cybersecurity law enacted in December 2010, but digital rights advocates have since called for its revision to match the changes in the digital space such as the emergence of generative artificial intelligence.

The country is also yet to ratify the Malabo Convention, otherwise known as the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection – a legislation adopted by African Union member states in 2014. It outlines an eclectic legal framework for addressing several issues related to cybersecurity, personal data protection and cybercrime.

Source: Biometricupdate

Cameroon has been seizing Starlink kits at its borders due to the Internet service provider lacking a license in the country. Starlink plans to discontinue service in regions where it isn’t licensed, including Cameroon, on April 30. Cameroonian authorities worry about Starlink’s impact on the national telecommunications and Internet provider, Camtel.

In a notice to customs personnel, Cameroon Customs Director General Fongod Edwin Nuvaga acknowledged the presence of imported Starlink equipment and emphasized its potential threat to national security. He highlighted that this technology, known for providing unrestricted, ultra-fast internet connection, operates without oversight from the Telecommunications Regulatory Board. Nuvaga emphasized ongoing seizure of Starlink equipment until proper licensing and regulation by the telecoms regulator is ensured. Concerns expressed by Cameroonian authorities include unfair competition, fraudulent commercial activities, exploitation of Starlink terminals, and risks related to personal data.

Additionally, Starlink has been requested to halt services for Cameroonians until it obtains official licensing, purportedly to safeguard the market. In an email notification to roaming customers, Starlink explained that its regional and global roaming plans are meant for temporary use by travelers, not for permanent utilization in unauthorized areas. The provider emphasized that using a Starlink kit in an unauthorized location violates the company’s Terms & Conditions. Following the April 2024 deadline, subscribers away from authorized regions for more than two months must either relocate or update their account country to avoid disconnection.

Numerous African nations are imposing restrictions on satellite internet providers, citing licensing and regulatory concerns. In Zimbabwe, the telecom regulator instructed Starlink to disconnect users in April 2024, following a previous announcement in January that distributors and users would face arrest. Conversely, Ghana’s National Communications Authority recently granted approval for Starlink to operate, making Ghana the eighth African country to endorse the satellite internet service, despite previous legal challenges.

Source: techinafrica