When a single photo can be manipulated into a convincing digital lie, the risks of modern technology become deeply personal.
In Uganda, regulators are warning that Artificial Intelligence (AI), long praised for its potential to transform health, education, and business, is increasingly being misused to harass, deceive, and manipulate individuals.
At the centre of these concerns is Baker Birikujja, the director of Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO).
He says AI tools are now being used to alter people’s images, fabricate stories, and create false narratives about their actions.
‘We have a big problem,’ Birikujja told Daily Monitor. ‘AI is being used to harass people. Someone can take your photo, put another dress on you, and claim you were somewhere you were not. It’s a new challenge, the whole world is still trying to figure out.’
The rise in AI misuse has intensified calls for stronger data protection, raising complex questions about ethics, regulation, and accountability.
Birikujja says the challenge is finding a balance to ensure that technology benefits society without exposing people to harm. The Data Protection and Privacy Act (2019) empowers PDPO to enforce privacy rights and penalize unlawful use of personal data.
All companies handling personal information are required to register with the office, a step Birikujja says is critical for traceability when violations occur.
Adding to the growing debate, Neema Iyer, founder of Pollicy, a digital rights and women’s safety organization, stresses the need for Africans to reclaim ownership of their data.
‘Data defines who we are,’ she says. ‘It is collected every time we use a SIM card, a mobile phone, or social media. If we do not take control of our data, others will decide for us.’ She notes that much of the technology used in Africa is controlled by companies abroad, creating a structural imbalance.
‘People from other countries are collecting our preferences, our information, even our genetics, and using it to make profits. We must ensure that data about us benefits our communities,’ she says.
While AI offers opportunities, Iyer warns that its environmental and social costs must be closely monitored.
Gilbert Sendugwa, Executive Director of the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC), said access to data is as important as its protection.
‘For tax authorities, access to online revenue data is essential in a digital economy where money is made through advertising and digital trade,’ he said.
Without independent access, he warned, tax bodies risk relying on underreported information from companies.
Researchers and civil society face similar constraints. Unlike Europe and US, where access to big-tech data is mandated by law, Africa lags, making it difficult to study technology’s impact or shape informed policy. Ongoing continental consultations aim to establish guidelines that balance privacy with public interest.