AI Policy as a Response to AI Ethics? Addressing Ethical Issues in the Development of AI Policies in North Africa

Abstract

The recent exponential rate of AI development has led to a proliferation of AI national policies and strategies as global power blocs have sought to consolidate positions of strategic dominance. These policies have sought to promote the benefits and mitigate the risks of AI—and address ever more serious ethical concerns about these technologies. This raises the question of how countries less influential in the sphere of AI might seek to address such ethical issues themselves, and whether lessons can be learned from existing policies in addressing issues of ethics and human rights. From a consideration of the current AI ethics discourse and existing AI policies, the chapter goes on to explore how ethical concerns are addressed in the North African AI strategies and which gaps and opportunities in terms of coverage of ethical issues arise from the current state of these policies. We suggest that ethical issues should be addressed clearly in policy at the earliest possible stage to ensure that ethical standards are internally produced in line with social and cultural values, rather than being de facto applied by external actors.

Future Shock: Generative AI and the International AI Policy and Governance Crisis

“…In Africa, emphasis on the role of AI to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals across the continent joined with calls for context-specific governance responses (Thomson Reuters Foundation, 2023). The African Union formed a task force in 2019 directing member states to "establish a working group on AI…to study: the creation of a common African stance on AI; the development of an Africa wide capacity building framework; and establishment of an AI think tank to assess and recommend projects to collaborate on in line with Agenda 2063 [a 50-year plan to achieve 'The Africa We Want'] and the UNSDGs" (African Union, 2019; Stahl et al, 2023). Over the past few years, countries in North Africa such as Egypt, Mauritius, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Sudan have correspondingly developed national AI strategies or initiated policy processes that have emphasized the importance of the safe, ethical, equitable, and sustainable development and deployment of AI technologies (Mubangizi, 2022;Stahl et al, 2023).…”

“…The African Union formed a task force in 2019 directing member states to "establish a working group on AI…to study: the creation of a common African stance on AI; the development of an Africa wide capacity building framework; and establishment of an AI think tank to assess and recommend projects to collaborate on in line with Agenda 2063 [a 50-year plan to achieve 'The Africa We Want'] and the UNSDGs" (African Union, 2019; Stahl et al, 2023). Over the past few years, countries in North Africa such as Egypt, Mauritius, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Sudan have correspondingly developed national AI strategies or initiated policy processes that have emphasized the importance of the safe, ethical, equitable, and sustainable development and deployment of AI technologies (Mubangizi, 2022;Stahl et al, 2023). In Southern Africa, countries such as Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia have also advanced AI policy formation, drawing on existing legislation "foundational for responsible AI" (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization…”