Surveillance, privacy concerns and beliefs about the utility of ICT4D in Africa – A hybrid approach to empirical Investigation (Submitted to Surveillance & Society journal) Egwuchukwu Ani Renaissance University, Ugbawka P.M.B. 01183 Enugu, Nigeria
[email protected] Abstract: Numerous international development literatures perceives the use of ICT4D in Africa as having a revolutionary impact on development. While such literatures draw our attention to important attributes of ICT4D and the transformational effects hitherto, they also miss to highlight the inevitable possibilities ensuing from its utilities. This work analyses the possible adverse effect of ICT4D, through the lens of surveillance and privacy concerns, and by the use of rigorous and multiple empirical investigations. The authors first developed and tested a theoretical model using second generation multivariate statistics (LISREL). Data were generated through online questionnaires and interviews. The authors then employed a novel computational approach to content analysis – by scraping Twitter data of key influencers on surveillance, privacy, and ICT4D in Africa. Generally, we found that surveillance and privacy have growing apprehensions over ICT usefulness for development initiatives. We further discussed the possible reason for our findings and implications. Introduction The use of information and communication technology (ICT) in Africa for development interventions, has been widely established in literatures in terms of ICT for development (ICT4D1 - benefit and opportunities for development). Some ICT4D scholars have maintained the usual implicit assumption of communication technology as accelerating socio-economic development, eradicating poverty, digital gap and spurring inclusive innovations (Brown and Grant 2010; Madon et al. 2009; Walsham 2005, 2012; World Bank 2012)2. This is, of course, with some good cause; new technologies present countless opportunities for expression, connectivity and empowerment (Graham 2016, 2017).