Addis Ababa / Abuja / Nairobi – July 2025
As generative AI tools like ChatGPT, deepfake generators, and synthetic media platforms evolve at breakneck speed, cybersecurity experts are sounding the alarm: African governments and institutions are not ready for the rising wave of AI-driven cyber threats.
From AI-crafted phishing emails to deepfake political videos, the misuse of generative AI is growing rapidly across Africa. Yet, few nations on the continent have frameworks in place to detect, regulate, or respond to these emerging digital risks.
“We’re in a dangerous gap where the technology has advanced, but our safeguards have not,” says Dr. Kwame Badu, a cybersecurity policy analyst based in Accra. “We are seeing attacks that look human-written, sound real, and bypass basic detection systems.”
Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa have all experienced recent attempts to influence elections or financial scams using deepfake videos or AI-generated voice recordings. In one case, hackers used cloned voices of bank executives to authorize fraudulent transactions in Uganda.
While global powers are forming AI task forces and investing in AI threat detection tools, many African nations still lack: – Dedicated AI or cybercrime legislation – National threat intelligence systems – Skilled cybersecurity professionals and ethical AI auditors
According to the African Union Commission on Digital Security, only 7 of 55 member states have formal policies regulating AI use in government or security.
“This isn't science fiction—it’s already happening,” said Amina Ismail, head of a Nairobi-based digital rights group. “Generative AI makes scams, impersonation, and disinformation cheaper, faster, and more convincing.”
Tech giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Google have rolled out watermarking tools and content authenticity tags, but their enforcement is limited in low-surveillance regions. Meanwhile, cybercriminals are leveraging open-source models to bypass controls.
Experts are urging African leaders to act now—by creating cross-border AI safety alliances, building public sector digital threat awareness, and embedding AI risk assessments in national strategies.
“Africa must not be a passive consumer of AI,” warns Dr. Badu. “We must lead in shaping its responsible use—or risk becoming its easiest target.”