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Paper short abstract:

This paper aims to contribute to the panel discussion by arguing that policies based on the proactionary principle, rather than the precautionary principle, should be adopted in Africa to govern and drive research, innovations and dissemination of emerging technologies for Africa's development .

Paper long abstract:

African countries are seeking to position themselves towards leveraging the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and various new technologies currently penetrating into the continent. Beyond relying on technology transfer and serving as markets for developed technologies, certain policy changes could enable African countries participate in their research and development, thereby helping narrow the technology gap. As African governmental bodies begin to focus on formulating strategies, policies and regulatory frameworks concerning innovation, investments and ethical use of new technologies, cultural resistance to AI, robotics and other emerging technologies coupled with autocratic traits in several African societies however stand to influence policymaking in directions of the “precautionary principle” – the current measure adopted in European legislation – which holds that a technology must be proven to do no harm before it is embraced, and implies initial response to a new idea should be inaction until its safety is established. Alternatively, the “proactionary principle” as a counter-viewpoint defends people’s freedom to learn, innovate and advance technologically, proposing effectively that in considering whether and how to develop, deploy, or restrict new technologies calculated risk-taking should be understood as an opportunity and essential to human progress. This paper contends that policies and regulations based on the precautionary principle would impede innovations that can help Africa’s development, and thus argue for the promotion instead of the proactionary principle in Africa to operate as the overarching ethical and decision-making principle governing and motivating research, innovation and dissemination of emerging technologies for advancement of the continent.